A large Holy Land mother-of-pearl, abalone shell and olive wood icon

A large Holy Land mother-of-pearl, abalone shell and olive wood icon
Jerusalem, Early 20th Century
Icon: height 55.5cm, width 52cm, depth 18cm
Case: height 15.5cm, width 61.5cm, depth 57.5cm
 
In fitted case, presented by the President of the Senate of Jordan, this beautiful item is a large Holy Land icon, crafted intricately and superbly from mother-of-pearl, mounted upon abalone shell and an olive wood backing. Made by craftsmen from a number of faiths, it depicts the nativity, with Christ and his mother in the centre surrounded by magi, worshippers and a host of angels.
 
A label, also in mother-of-pearl, indicates that it was at some point a gift presented by Sa'id Mufti, President of the Senate of Jordan, in the course of one of his two terms, between either December 1956 to July 1963, or November 1964 to November 1974. Either a diplomatic or personal gift, it is a large and finely wrought example of these items, coming in a rare wooden fitted case.