Jerusalem box set

Jerusalem box set

Ottoman Empire, late 18th/early 19th century

Rectangular, hinged, domed lid in wood inlaid with engraved and colored mother-of-pearl plaques. On the front, five arches are decorated with floral bouquets and lions. The lid and sides are decorated with radiating rosettes framed by garlands of flowers. The back is adorned with a motif of interlacing, chevrons and flowering vases. Missing parts H: 20 cm ; W: 32 cm ; D: 17.5 cm. The development of sacred crafts in Palestine is closely linked to the practice of pilgrimage and the habit of pilgrims to bring home souvenirs from the Holy Places. While much of the manufacture was concentrated in Jerusalem, stores selling devotional objects could also be found in the many other places along the pilgrims' itinerary. In modern times, not only has the devotional production of Bethlehem's craftsmen reached a higher artistic level than other local productions, but it also holds a central place among the village's activities, as many travelers have noted. According to these accounts, the craftsmen were mainly Catholic, but also Greek, Armenian and even Muslim. References Émilie Girard and Felicita Tramontana, The manufacture of devotional objects in Palestine, from the modern era to the early 19th century. Provenance : Jean-Charles Tauzin Collection (1889-1957) A Jerusalem mother-of-pearl wooden casket, Ottoman Empire, late 18th-early 19th century