|
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.〔(Tourist Products ), Palestine-family.net]〕 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.〔Weir, p.128, 280, n.30 〕 It was noted by Richard Pococke, who travelled there in 1727. 〔( ''A Description of the East and Some other Countries'' ), p. 436〕 Previously, most of the oysters for the mother-of-pearl supply came from the Red Sea. Today, however, Australia, California, New Zealand and Brazil are the main exporters.〔( Bethlehem municipality website )〕 The first exhibition in the west of mother-of-pearl artifacts from Palestine was at The World Fair in New York in 1852. Two brothers, Giries and Ibrahim Mansur, exhibited their work and were a great success.〔(Tourist Products ), Palestine-family.net, 23.01.2007, Source:"Bethlehem, The Immortal Town" by Giries Elali〕 Present day products, include crosses, earrings, brooches and picture frames. ==References== 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Mother-of-Pearl carving in Bethlehem」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|