Contents

Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents vii
3. List of Illustrations ix
4. Acknowledgments xiii
5. Introduction: Pearls as Imperial Gems 1
6. 1 Signs of Divine Power: Pearls and the Immaculate Conception in Habsburg Spain 17
7. 2 Mastering Nature: Pearls, Natural History, and Artistic Practice in the Early Modern Spanish World 47
8. 3 Contested Stories of Wealth: The Island of Pearls in “New World” Chronicles 75
9. 4 A Pearl for the Grand Duke: Images of Native American Pearl Divers in Medici Florence 101
10. 5 Pearl and Ebony Treasures: Precious Collectibles at the Court of Augustus the Strong 129
11. Epilogue: Pearls, Divers, and the Order of Nature 163
12. Notes 167
13. Bibliography 179
14. Index 199