Mother-of-Pearl Carving

 

Who makes this craft:

Holy Land Handicraft Cooperative Society
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Mother-of-Pearl carving is a tradition dating back to the early 17th century. It evolved as an art form along with olive wood carving when Franciscan monks came to the Holy Land. The monks trained the local Christian population in the carving of olive wood and mother- of-pearl rosaries, crucifixes and reproductions of the Cave of the Nativity and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Today, only a handful of artisans remain in Bethlehem area who are highly skilled in this craft.