Pearl of the Orient: The Philippines in a Shell

In Pearl of the Orient: The Philippines in Shell (2007), co-authors Sonia P. Ner and Jose Maria “Jomari” Cariño bring to light an overlooked medium of 19th-century Philippine art—paintings and carvings on Pinctada maxima shells, which encapsulate the era’s cultural narratives. This collection includes works by prominent Filipino artists such as Juan Luna, Félix Resurrección Hidalgo, and Félix Martínez, as well as Spanish artists Javier Gómez de la Serna and Francisco Verdugo y Bartlett. The shells offer detailed glimpses into Philippine life under Spanish colonial rule, from architectural nuances in the bahay kubo to clothing styles, thus serving as a visual archive of the time.

Published by Ars Mundi in 2007

192 pages / Hardcover