Large Holy Land mother of pearl, abalone and olive wood icon

Beautifully crafted, this wonderful religious piece is a large Holy Land icon, depicting the nativity, and crafted from mother-of-pearl, abalone shell, and mounted on olive wood. Made in the Middle East, by craftsmen from a variety of faiths, it has a rare fitted case, and an even rarer diplomatic-gift history.

A mother of pearl label shows that this piece was presented by the President of the Senate of Jordan, Sa'id Mufti, at some point during one of his terms in this office, either between December 1956 to July 1963, and November 1964 to November 1974. Either a diplomatic, or possibly personal gift but probably the former, it depicts the nativity in a beautiful realised architecture, with Christ surrounded by his mother, the magi, and a host of worshippers and angels. The icon can stand on its own, and it comes in a well-fitted wooden case.