Two Palestinian mother-of-pearl plaques depicting The Last Supper and The Annunciation, 19th C.

Dim.: 15,7 x 16,6 cm (the largest)
Dim.: 14,8 x 14,7 cm (the smallest)

Shells like these were sold to Christian pilgrims in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, where they were hand-carved in relief by local Palestinian craftsmen. From there, they made their way to Europe and beyond during the 19th century. Orthodox pilgrims from Russia also brought large numbers back, which is why the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg now holds an important collection of such shells, along with other devotional items produced in Palestine. The Vatican Museums likewise preserve related mother-of-pearl Christian artifacts from the same tradition.

The shells themselves were mostly sourced from the Red Sea.