Grandma'ma's Hat with Pearls

by Francis
(San Francisco)

While my story isn't quite the same as having actually found a natural pearl in an oyster or such, having had my Grandma'ma's white fur hat, (from the 1930/40s), passed down to me, and now, having read Kari's pearl pages, I realize that while the white mink (least that is what I believe it to be, but as yet don't really know), the hat is very pretty, and a treasure unto itself, BUT!...the three large and incredibly beautiful pearls sewed on to the front of the pill box style cap, are perhaps by far the more valuable and truly RARE treasures.

Fur Hat with Pearls

Having made some inquires with other family members I've learned that my Mamai sewed the three pearls on her hat one at a time, one for each one of her children.


Fur Hat with Pearls

Mamai was not just a woman of means, but a very cultured and gentle woman. The hat was passed to me, basically because no one else wanted it, as, I mentioned it is real fur, and to me quite beautiful, even if from another time, place, when the style of dress was very different. To it was a much classier time. That it is made of natural fur, Mink, Fox, or perhaps Ermin, seems to have rendered it "Politically Incorrect" to even have.


Fur Hat with Pearls

For that I've keep it to myself stored the way Mamai herself had kept it for so many years so it is in near perfect shape.


Fur Hat with Pearls

What a treasure she has passed down to me!


Fur Hat with Pearls

Thank you, Kari, for your wonderful informative and FUN site all about pearls, the Queen of Gems. That's how I like to think of My Mamai, to me she was always like a queen, she was a most gentle and sensitive woman, and while she could have afforded to have draped herself in jewels she never did, save for her wedding band, and now it seems, her fur hat, with these three beautiful pearls she sewed onto it, one for each of her children. She was a very special lady.


Fur Hat with Pearls

Once again, thank you, Kari, for your most generous sharing of information, history, and lore, about these "Queen of Gems".


Fur Hat with Pearls

I would like to know more about these gems. I suspect that these "finds" of mine are in fact the real deal.