the baroquest of baroque pearls

These beauties are in the permanent collection of the Met. I wish I had better photos, but I haven't seen them there since this visit in probably 2007. Maybe they've been moved, or they're hiding out in the dark someplace in storage now? I never really cared much for pearls until I saw these, but now baroque pearls have a special place in my heart.

While looking for better images on their site, I did come across this sweet piece at the Cloisters:

The letters across the bottom spell "amor", and according to the museum, "It could have been worn as either a pendant or a brooch, and in portraits of young women, many similar jewels are seen in their hair or at the shoulder or neck."

(Found here.)