THE RETURN TO JAPAN

But ten years later, as fast as it had begun, coral jewellery and cameos suddenly went out of fashion in America. Mr. Catamore was no longer interested in the coral products that now remained unsold in his storerooms. As a result of these abrupt changes, the firm once more underwent a dramatic transformation: following in Bartolomeo’s footsteps after so many years, Antonio decided to reforge links with the Far East, setting his sights on China and Japan for the purchase of cultured and South Sea pearls and coral. In particular, he focused on the cities of Taipei and Su-ao in the island of Taiwan where good quality material could be obtained at low prices.