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
Pearl of the Orient Tower Pearl of the Orient Tower The Pearl of the Orient Tower, previously known as Embassy Pointe Tower, is a residential skyscraper located in Manila, Philippines, owned by the Philippine Estates Corporation. Standing at , it is one of the tallest buildings in the City of Manila. The building has 42 floors above ground, wherein 6 floors are for parking spaces, 5 floors for office and commercial purposes, 30 floors for luxury residential units, and 2 floors for penthouse units. There are also 4 basement levels for parking. The Pearl of the Orient Tower was designed by American architectural firm Nadel