Red coral has long been seen as a symbol of wealth and prosperity throughout the world, holding many symbols and myths. It has allured artists and high-class individuals over the centuries. People all over the world have held different beliefs of the power of red coral.
From the history of red coral to understanding the color wheel, this article will give you everything you need to know about Mediterranean red coral jewelry.
What Exactly Is Coral?
Coral is a colonial organism that grows limestone exoskeletons to make polyps, and form large coral branches. There are over 6,000 types of coral species, thriving at all water depths.
Coral can thank algae growing on the polyps for their bright and vibrant colors. When the algae die off, coral bleaching occurs.
Coral reefs are a massive marine ecosystem providing homes for nearly a quarter of all the fish in the sea and can date back to 1.8 million years old.
Types of Red Coral
There are several types of coral that are red in color. Let’s take a look at each of them.
Sardinian Coral
Red coral (C. rubrum), or Sardinian coral, can be found growing at depths of 10-280 meters and lives up to 75 years. Sardinian coral is also known as Mediterranean coral. It can grow up to 2 feet in height, with colors ranging from pink to red. After it dies, it retains its red color while other species turn white. Did you know that red coral is the only home for the sea snail pseudosimnia carnea?
Moro Coral
Another species of coral popular in jewelry making is C. japonicum, or Moro coral, which is found off the shore of Japan. The color of this coral ranges from dark red to oxblood red. It’s rare due to overharvesting and fetches the highest price of all red coral.
Sciacca Coral
Sciacca coral, or dead coral, was popular in the 19th century in Neapolitan jewelry. This coral grew on the slopes of underwater active volcanoes. During volcanic activity between 300 BC- 1831, these coral beds were reshaped and transformed from red coral to Sciacca coral.
This coral ranges in color from salmon pink to orange and red. Fishermen discovered Sciacca coral in their fishing nets in 1875.
Angel Skin Coral
Another notable species is C. elatius, or angel skin coral. This coral is found off the shores of Taiwan and Japan. It’s mainly used in high-end jewelry and is rare to find.
A Deep Dive into Mediterranean Coral
From here, we will be exploring Sardinian coral in depth, covering everything from its history to color theory, and why it’s a great pairing with turquoise.
Where Does Mediterranean Coral Come From?
Sardinian coral is found in many waters around the Mediterranean and off the north coast of Africa. The most important fisheries are found off the coast of Tunisia, Morocco, and Algeria. It can also be found off the coast of Naples, Sardinia, Corsica, Catalonia, and Province.
It has been traded from the Mediterranean to India along vast incense routes. For a while, the Greeks held these areas under their power and began to use coral too.
The History of Red Coral
Red coral has a long and fascinating history, representing transformation and questioning science. This coral was found in fragments with 25,000 year old human remains from the Paleolithic era.
Red coral ornaments were also found in 25,000 year old graves in Germany and Egypt. In ancient times, people would collect the red coral as it washed onto the shore.
About 5,000 years ago, Greek fishermen began to collect red coral with iron hooks. Then, they began collecting using a wooden cross with nets attached, called a St. Andrews cross. Some fishermen used iron bars with nets to dredge the area, called ‘barra Italiana”.
The Discovery of Mediterranean Red Coral
In 1418, red coral was discovered in the sea off Trapani in Sicily. This began an extensive coral trade between the Mediterranean and India along incense trading routes. Most of the coral during this time was harvested by Italian fishermen.
Red coral rosaries were very popular during this time. People believed these rosaries held the power to ward off the devil plus the benefit of using it as a devotional tool. Women of this time loved to wear them for their religious significance.
During the 19th century, a large amount of red coral was discovered off the coast of Gozo in Maltese waters and off the coast of Taiwan. Each red coral discovery led to a “coral rush”, where the coral is overexploited due to increased effort to find it. Fishermen and traders often would leave after the rush.
Coral beads and jewelry can be found in 19th-century Maltese inventories.
Protection Measures
After the red coral discoveries of the 19th century, protection measures began to be put into place. First, officials suggested fishing methods using nets and weights. Then they began to give out licenses for fishing. After that didn’t work well, they began to section out the fishing areas to the highest bidders.
Over the centuries, Spain, France, and Great Britain have all held rights to the fishing grounds of red coral. There has always been competition over the fishing grounds off the coast of Africa between Mediterranean communities. Now, off the island of Corsica, there are three marine protected areas where red coral colonies are thriving.
The Heart of Coral
Over the centuries, Sicily and Trapani have been known for coral harvesting and crafting. Torre del Greco, known as Corallini, was a commune in the city of Naples. It became the most popular city for coral production and manufacturing. Fishermen in this area held most of the red coral fishing areas during this time.
In 1790, the Royal Society of Coral was founded. Then, in 1805, the first coral manufacturing factories opened in Corallini. In 1878, a school was built to teach students how to manufacture coral. It was then turned into a museum in 1933. Another coral museum, Museo del Corallo, has works dating from 1805-1950.
Red Coral During the Victorian Era
Red coral was a notable form of personal jewelry during the Victorian era, particularly for women. Red coral was considered to be a symbol of European exploration and it represented European mission trips to the communities of the Pacific Ocean. It also combined the visual pleasure of the ocean and represented the “human ambition to penetrate beneath its surface”.
During this time, red coral symbolized transformative possibilities, combining new scientific discoveries and Darwin’s release of The Theory of Evolution. Coral was a very new discovery during the Victorian era and was both highly sought after and quite expensive.
Beliefs Around Mediterranean Red Coral
The symbolism of red coral varies depending on the geographic location. Red coral is said to hold protective qualities against diseases and harmful energies. Some people would grind it down into a powder and use it as an astringent or for stomach ailments.
In Malta, older generations would use it “to ward off danger”. In India, they believed it held sacred powers. The Gauls used red coral in their weapons and helmets for protection. The Romans believed it warded off danger from outside and typically gave necklaces to children.
In Italy, they used it to ward off evil and as a fertility treatment for women. These beliefs continued throughout the Middle Ages and into 20th-century Italy.
South of Malta there’s an archeological site that is said to be the home of the Cult of Hera. They believed that red coral helped navigational powers to be bestowed upon them by Hera. It was also given as an offering to Hera to increase navigational protection. These ruins have dated back to the 4th century BC to 1 century AC.
Red Coral in Mythology
The Roman poet Grattius Raliscus mentions coral in one of his poems. He wrote that coral combined with other shells and herbs could make an amulet that would cure or ward off rabies in dogs.
According to myths, after defeating the sea monster Cetus, Perseus discovered that Medusa’s blood turned the plants into coral.
In the Yorba and Bini peoples of West Africa, red coral jewelry is used to signify a high rank and status.
In Vedic astrology, red coral is commonly associated with the planet Mars and aggression. In some parts of the Mediterranean, oracles used red coral to divine the future.
In current times, red coral represents vitality, wellness and mental focus. It also encourages success and prosperity, and drives ambition. Red coral is also said to aid the circulatory system.
The Scarcity and Rarity of Red Coral
Since red coral is a living animal, some countries have listed it on the endangered species list. There have been several marine protected areas created to protect red coral.
Now, commercial coral beds are only 20-30% of their historic baseline, meaning they are only a 20th of what they once were.
Red coral is harvested at a rate of 60 tons per year, but only 20% of what is harvested is actually collected – the rest is lost to the sea because of damaging equipment being used. Considering this, red coral is rare and highly valuable.
Pricing
The highest-priced red coral has strong branches and a deep red color. The deeper the red color, the more expensive it is. Japanese red coral fetches a price of $75-$230 per carat. Italian red coral has a price of $8-$65 per carat.
Mohs Scale
The Mohs scale was created in 1822 by Frederich Mohs. The Mohs scale categorizes minerals based on their hardness and ability to be scratched by quartz. On the scale, 1 is the softest while 10 is the hardest. Red coral is rated as a 3.5 on the Mohs scale and pairs well with harder stones.
Red coral is cut into cabochons because of their fragile state. Cabochon cuts were created in the late 13th century and were popular during the Renaissance era.
A cabochon cut has a rounded face and a flat back. Typically any stone with a score of 7 or less is cut into a cabochon to give strength and light to the stone. This increases the durability and enhances the color of the stone.
Red Coral and Turquoise Jewelry: A Perfect Combination
Red Coral and turquoise are commonly paired together in jewelry. But why is this? Let’s take a look at the history of this pair.
Color Theory
Color theory is a guide to mixing color, understanding specific color combinations, and understanding their visual effects.
The color wheel was created in 1666 by Sir Isacc Newton. The color wheel is a visually mapped color spectrum showing a geographical relationship between colors. Color theory is made up of color values, tints, tones, and how to arrange different color schemes.
Complementary colors, such as blue and red, are seen as a bold pairing since they are directly opposite on the color wheel. Blue is seen as peaceful, calm, and pleasing to the eyes. Red is seen as passionate and energetic, standing out and setting a serious tone.
The sharp contrast between these colors stimulates the photoreceptors in the eyes, activating different parts of the brain and creating a bold effect.
Combining Red Coral and Turquoise
The combination of red coral and turquoise is pleasing to the eye because of color theory, plus it plays on multiple receptors at once. In addition to this, the combination is a beautiful reflection of science and modern art.
Southwestern Native American Indians have been making red coral and turquoise jewelry for hundreds of years. They have fashioned red coral into necklaces, rings, bracelets, and earrings.
Red coral was introduced by the Spaniards in the 19th century. Indians set a high value on red coral, with a necklace fetching $200. It was recorded that a pound of red coral beads cost $100.
Tibetan turquoise and red coral jewelry and masks have also been made for hundreds of years. For some examples of jewelry I’ve made with both Turquoise and Red Coral, please refer to my gallery.
In Conclusion
Red coral has always mystified people, especially in the 1800s. Over the centuries, it has been used as a protective amulet, cure for diseases, and even used as a religious object.
It is worth noting that red coral is an animal that has been overexploited since its discoveries, but now it has been protected through protected marine areas. Red coral can still be found all over the world in jewelry and carvings.
It’s quite fitting that all these myths, symbols, and traditions can be wrapped up in such a beautiful stone.