Description

The vibrant colors of these earrings lets you think of the beauty of God’s creation.
What is Mother-of-Pearl Abalone? Abalone shells are composed of layers of nacre, or mother-of-pearl. The best mother-of-pearl shimmers with iridescent colors much like black opal. A single piece may have red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple intermingling and shifting as you move it under a lamp.
The making of jewellery and decorative items from Mother of Pearl is perhaps Bethlehem’s oldest and most established industry. The practice supposedly came to Bethlehem in the 15th century with the arrival of Franciscan friars. Locals soon mastered the art and made a modest living selling handmade items to the many pilgrims who streamed into Bethlehem. Traditionally, the sea shells and abalone were brought in from the Port of Aqaba on the Red Sea. However, now they are imported from Australia, California, New Zealand, and Brazil. Palestinian Christians, particularly the Zoughbi family in Bethlehem, have often received international recognition for their mastery of this art form.