Very large mother of pearl and abalone icon of the Last Supper

Unusually large for its kind, this religious icon represents a synthesis of Jewish, Muslim, and Christian craft. It is a diorama in deep relief, and depicts the Last Supper. The icon is primarily crafted from mother of pearl. Also known as nacre, the material was widely used in precious decorative objects because of its beautiful iridescence and sheen, which appears to change colour when viewed from different angles.

Given the placement of the figures, the icon is almost certainly based on Leonardo da Vinci’s painting on the same theme, which is housed in the Santa Maria delle Grazie church in Milan. Seated behind a long dinner table, Jesus and his twelve disciples are seen in conversation, with Jesus marked in the centre by a halo. Three windows adorn the back wall, each filled with the buildings of the city beyond. Receding diagonals create an impressive sense of perspective, aided by the alternating bands of mother of pearl and colourful abalone.

The scene is encompassed by a highly ornate frame, adorned with arabesques and other foliate designs. The elaborate decoration is highly impressive, wrought from carved, engraved, and pierced mother of pearl or abalone. The frame is crowned with a representation of the Resurrection, flanked by depictions of the Baptism and the Annunciation. The four corners are carved with roundels depicting the four Evangelists. As such, the extent of the religious imagery is prolific.

The entire mother-of-pearl and abalone composition is set onto a carved olive wood backing, and the piece is screwed into a glass-fronted wooden case.

The 18^th and 19^th centuries saw a continuation of the centuries-old historic pilgrimage made to Jerusalem, made by pilgrims of all different faiths. Since the medieval period, visitors have acquired souvenirs from the sacred site, and mother of pearl icons were a particularly popular example of tourist keepsakes in the 19^th century. The workshops where these items were made were remarkable examples of cross-religion collaboration, with Jewish, Muslim, and Christian workers crafting such pieces together.

A beautiful piece of religious artwork in its own right, this icon is a fascinating piece of history, and a particularly exceptional example of a prized Holy Land souvenir.

Icon: Height 78cm, width 75cm, depth 13cm
Case: Height 86cm, width 83cm, depth 20cm