Featured in this lot is this Lake Biwa Japanese multi strand pearl necklace circa 1946-1949. There are three strands in this necklace with small Biwa pears strung on twine that shows coloration of cream to reflective pink and is clasp together with a 14k gold clasp. Biwa pearls refer to the pearls that came from Lake Biwa, Japan. These were the forerunners to today’s freshwater pearls and were so popular that, until recently, all freshwater pearls were called Biwas. Today, while Biwa pearl production has all but ceased, these pearls continue to be popular and sought after. Kokichi Mikimoto began to experiment in Lake Biwa with mussels instead of oysters and with mantle tissue irritants instead of beaded nuclei. A piece of mantle tissue was grafted into the mussel. The mussels could have multiple cultures of tissue grafted into them allowing the mussel to harvest multiple pearls with irregular light play and varying colors. The condition of this multi strand necklace is good with no obvious signs of damage and in good overall condition. The measurements of this necklace from tip to tip are 23".