Pearls One of the most extraordinary and cherished gems in human history—one of the few gems created by living creatures—finds a stunning new setting in the exhibition Pearls. Co-developed by The Field Museum and the American Museum of Natural History in New York, Pearls examines the natural history of pearls in the most comprehensive presentation ever on these highly sought-after treasures. This beautiful exhibition weaves science, art, literature, history, and magnificent jewelry into the story of pearls and the mollusks that form them. These mysterious and beautiful objects, which have intrigued humans for thousands of years, have funded business and industry, initiated conquest and exploration, adorned religious and secular art, and have long been associated with royalty and celebrity. Pearls tells this complex and glamorous story, bringing together many culturally significant objects and specimens from public and private collections around the world. Exhibition highlights include: Stunning jewelry, artwork, and cultural objects from around the world Elaborate displays of over 700 objects, including nearly 500,000 individual pearls Prehistoric specimens, including a 50-million-year-old fossil pearl and a 100-million-year-old iridescent fossil ammonite Animations that show how pearls are formed and cross-section images from a scanning electron microscope that reveal the complex structure of a pearl Pearls is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York, in collaboration with The Field Museum, Chicago. The objects in these images represent the exhibition’s content while at AMNH, and may not appear at all venues. Size Requirements: 7,000 square feet Rental Fee Please inquire Audience: Adults, families, and school groups Shipping: Please inquire Related Images To view a larger image, click on a thumbnail. Learn More: Pearls tour schedule. Pearls website. For more information, please contact: Whitney Owens Traveling Exhibitions Director The Field Museum 001-312-665-7332 More Traveling Exhibitions: Nature Unleashed: Inside Natural Disasters A T. Rex Named Sue Chocolate 50 Years of Powwow Transforming Tradition: Pottery from Mata Ortiz George Washington Carver Mammoths and Mastodons Gregor Mendel: Planting the Seeds of Genetics A Celebration of Souls: Day of the Dead in Southern Mexico Traveling Exhibitions Home