Mother-of-pearl carving in Bethlehem 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. Present day products, include crosses, earrings, brooches and picture frames. Mother-of-pearl carving in Bethlehem Mother-of-Pearl carving, a traditional handicraft in Bethlehem, is said to have been brought to the city by Franciscan friars from Italy in the 15th century. Bethlehem's position as an important Christian city has for centuries attracted a
Palatinate Pearl Palatinate Pearl The Palatinate Pearl is a pearl, kept with, but distinct from the Crown Jewels of Bavaria. The pearl is unique insofar as it is one of only very few part black, part white pearls to occur naturally. The pearl is set between two diamond encrusted snakes, protruding from a bed of leaves, flanked by two flowers. While the exact origins of the pearl are unknown it first appears among the royal Crown Jewels of Bavaria, who were the ruling family of the Palatinate, which gaves its name to the pearl (and possibly its origin). Having traveled with its