Mother-of-Pearl carving in Bethlehem

Mother-of-Pearl carving has been a Bethlehem tradition since the art was introduced to the city by Franciscan friars from Damascus during the 14th century. Bethlehem municipality website
Bethlehem's position as an important Christian city has for centuries attracted a constant stream of pilgrims. This generated much local work and income, also for women, including making mother-of-pearl souvenirs. According to Weir, Bethlehem women's employment in the mother-of-pearl industry goes back at least to the seventeenth century.Weir, p.128, 280, n.30 It was noted by Richard Pococke, who travelled there in 1727. A Description of the East and Some other Countries, p. 436
Previously, most of the oysters for the mother-of-pearl supply came from the Red Sea. Today, however, Australia, California, New Zealand and Brazil are the main exporters.
The first exhibition in the west of mother-of-pearl artifacts from Palestine was at The World Fair in New York in 1852. Two brothers, Giries and Ibrahim Mansur, exhibited their work and were a great success.Tourist Products, Palestine-family.net, 23.01.2007, Source:"Bethlehem, The Immortal Town" by Giries Elali
Present day products, include crosses, earrings, brooches,Brooch, made in Bethlehem maps of Palestine,Maps of Palestine and picture frames.Picture frames
==References==
==Bibliography==
*Weir, Shelagh (1989). Palestinian Costume, London: British Museum Publications Ltd. ISBN 0-7141-2517-2. (exhibition catalog)
*Pococke, Richard (1811): A General Collection of the Best and Most Interesting Voyages and Travels in All Parts of the World: Many of which are Now First Translated Into English, (Popocke starts at p.406.)
==External links==
*Mother of Pearl A Traditional Palestinian Craft By Saleem Zougbi, Based on the book, “Nacar di Palestina” by Enrique Jidi, Colombia.
*Tourist Products Palestine-family.net, 23.01.2007, Based on the book, "Bethlehem, The Immortal Town" by Giries Elali
Category:Palestinian history
Category:Economy of the Palestinian territories
Category:Bethlehem