Mother Of Pearl

Mother-of-Pearl carving has been a Bethlehem tradition since the art was introduced to the city by Franciscan brothers and priests from Damascus during the 14th century. Whole families in Bethlehem still hand carve mother-of-pearl Christian carvings mainly for pilgrims who flock to the town of Bethlehem to visit the place where Our Lord Jesus Christ was born, in a cave presently under the Church of the Nativity!! Present day products include crosses, earrings, brooches, picture frames and many other carvings.