Mother-of-pearl carving in Bethlehem 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 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. It was noted by Richard Pococke, who travelled there in 1727. Previously, most of the oysters for the mother-of-pearl supply came from the
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