Geo answer

Antique pearls are the key to today’s Geo Quiz.

Christie’s is planning to auction off a very special necklace of pearls next month. The auction will take place in the Persian Gulf emirate of Dubai. David Warren is Head of Jewelry for Christie’s Middle East.

Um Kulthum’s natural pearl necklace: To be offered as part of Christie’s Contemporary Jewels and Watches sale in Dubai on April 29, 2008. An antique nine-row pearl necklace with multi-coloured enamel and white stone details, in the style of a traditional Indian Satlada necklace, created circa 1880 (estimate: $80,000-120,000), and consisting of approximately 1,888 pearls.(front view) Copyright: Christie’s 2008Um Kulthum’s natural pearl necklace: To be offered as part of Christie’s Contemporary Jewels and Watches sale in Dubai on April 29, 2008. An antique nine-row pearl necklace with multi-coloured enamel and white stone details, in the style of a traditional Indian Satlada necklace, created circa 1880 (estimate: $80,000-120,000), and consisting of approximately 1,888 pearls.(front view) Copyright: Christie’s 2008

“This is a spectacular necklace, nearly 2000 pearls are involved in this necklace. So when you look at it, you have these nine graduated rows of pearls, covering the chest and in between, hanging from each row, you have little panels of pearls hanging from that. So the impression you get when you look at this necklace is pearls, pearls, pearls (Are you sure they’re not plastic?) I’ve bitten them and I can promise you they are not!”

Real and beautiful! The necklace was a gift — given by the ruler of the United Arab Emirates to one of the Arab world’s most famous singers of the 20th century. So who was the diva that mesmerized the Arab world with her songs in classical Arabic?

Um Kulthum’s natural pearl necklace (back view)Um Kulthum’s natural pearl necklace (back view)

And which country was she from?

That’s for you to puzzle on …

You’ve come to the right place for the answer to our Geo Quiz.

Christie’s (auction house) has announced that next month it will auction an antique necklace of pearls that once belonged to a very famous Middle Eastern singer. We wanted to know the name of this diva who sang in classical arabic, and the name of her home country. David Warren, Head of Jewelry for Christie’s Middle East, has the answer: “The name of this iconic singer, one of the most important singers of the 20th century, is a lady called Umm Kulthoum, the shining star of the Middle East. She was born on the Nile Delta in Egypt.”

Egypt is the answer to our Geo Quiz.