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ID #SA886153
FOR SALE
£5,500
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Late 19th Century Antique Jerusalem Mother of Pearl Shell Carved Plaques
For sale by H & H Gallery
for sale €6,435     $6,985
£5,500
H & H Gallery

H & H Gallery

Sellingantiques Verified Since Nov 2020
Browse dealers 114 items
  • About Us
    European and islamic art
  • Trade Associations
    H & H Gallery is a registered member of LAPADA 
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Id #SA886153
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Late 19th Century Antique Jerusalem Mother of Pearl Shell Carved Plaques

19th century
For Sale by H & H Gallery
Description

A beautiful collection of five shells engraved from the Holy Land depicts a religion scenes, three of them depicts the last supper in Jerusalem, the other two depicts scenes from the bible, heavily carved and detailed.

Condition: Very Good

Dimensions: 1-H: 16.5cm, W: 15.5cm

2- H: 13cm, W: 12.8cm

3- H: 16.5cm, W: 14.5cm

4- H: 13cm, W: 12.5cm

5- H: 13cm, W: 13cm

Physical Dimensions
Height
16.5cm (6.50")
Width
15.5cm (6.10")
Declaration

H & H Gallery has dated these Carved Mother of Pearl Plaques to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA886153
Dealers Internal Reference
H1296
Description
A beautiful collection of five shells engraved from the Holy Land depicts a religion scenes, three of them depicts the last supper in Jerusalem, the other two depicts scenes from the bible, heavily carved and detailed.

Condition: Very Good

Dimensions: 1-H: 16.5cm, W: 15.5cm

2- H: 13cm, W: 12.8cm

3- H: 16.5cm, W: 14.5cm

4- H: 13cm, W: 12.5cm

5- H: 13cm, W: 13cm

Height
16.5cm (6.50")
Width
15.5cm (6.10")
Date of Manufacture

H & H Gallery has dated these Carved Mother of Pearl Plaques to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA886153
Dealers Internal Ref
H1296
H & H Gallery
H & H Gallery
Sellingantiques verified Since Nov 2020

European and islamic art

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the H & H Gallery Profile Page

Trade Associations

H & H Gallery is a registered member of LAPADA 

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SAVE
A set of five intricately hand-carved mother of pearl shells depicting biblical scenes with detailed pierced fretwork borders.
1 / 6
Archive I A set of five intricately hand-carved mother of pearl shells depicting biblical scenes with detailed pierced fretwork borders.

Late 19th Century Antique Jerusalem Mother of Pearl Shell Carved Plaques

Archive II A set of five intricately hand-carved mother of pearl shells depicting biblical scenes with detailed pierced fretwork borders. View II
Archive III A set of five intricately hand-carved mother of pearl shells depicting biblical scenes with detailed pierced fretwork borders. View III
Archive IV A set of five intricately hand-carved mother of pearl shells depicting biblical scenes with detailed pierced fretwork borders. View IV
Archive V A set of five intricately hand-carved mother of pearl shells depicting biblical scenes with detailed pierced fretwork borders. View V
Archive VI A set of five intricately hand-carved mother of pearl shells depicting biblical scenes with detailed pierced fretwork borders. View VI
Enlarged Archival View
H & H Gallery

H & H Gallery
Telephone 020 8951 9319
Location
8 Chase Road
Unit 1
The Chase Centre
London
NW10 6QD
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/hhgallery
Verified Since Nov 2020
Items For Sale 114
Items Sold 197
H & H Gallery
H & H Gallery
Verified Since Nov 2020
View Dealer Info
Location: 8 Chase Road, Unit 1, The Chase Centre, London, NW10 6QD, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/hhgallery
Verified
Nov 2020
For Sale
114
Sold
197
A set of five intricately hand-carved mother of pearl shells depicting biblical scenes with detailed pierced fretwork borders.
Late 19th Century Antique Jerusalem Mother of Pearl Shell Carved Plaques
Ref: SA886153
A set of five intricately hand-carved mother of pearl shells depicting biblical scenes with detailed pierced fretwork borders.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Detail View 4
Detail View 5
Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectDecorative Plaques
  • Period19th century
  • StyleVictorian
  • MaterialMother of Pearl, Shell
  • ColourIridescent Cream
  • MotifsRelief carving, Pierced fretwork, Scalloped shell edges, Biblical scenes
  • SizeH 16.5 cm (6 in) x W 15.5 cm (6 in)

This collection of five late 19th-century Victorian decorative plaques comprises hand-carved mother of pearl shells from the Holy Land in an iridescent cream colour. Each shell features detailed relief carving depicting biblical scenes, including three representing the Last Supper and two illustrating other stories from the Bible, complemented by pierced fretwork borders and scalloped shell edges with small suspension loops at the top. The largest individual shell measures 16.5 cm high and 15.5 cm wide. These religious plaques suit display within a traditional or eclectic interior setting. Placed individually or grouped together upon a mantelpiece, they bring historical character and intricate craftsmanship to a room. Their polished surfaces reflect light while highlighting the fine figural details and openwork geometric patterns carved directly into the natural material.

FAQs

Jerusalem mother of pearl carving is a traditional craft established in the Holy Land during the seventeenth century, popularized by Franciscan friars who taught local artisans to carve nacre shells. These items were predominantly produced as souvenir reliquaries and religious keepsakes for European pilgrims during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Artisans used raw mother of pearl (nacre) shells sourced from the Red Sea. The process involved hand-shaping the natural shell, low-relief carving of intricate narrative scenes, and delicate hand-piercing or fretwork using fine saws and chisels to create openwork borders.

Authentic period pieces exhibit subtle hand-tool marks, variable depth in the relief work, and natural shell imperfections or gentle curvature. The reverse side often retains the raw texture or iridescent sheen of the natural outer shell layer.

These decorative objects display effectively when mounted inside bespoke shadow boxes or arranged on acrylic stands within a curio cabinet. Placing them near subtle ambient lighting highlights the natural iridescence and detailed fretwork.

Clean gently using a soft, dry microfibre cloth to remove dust. Avoid water, alcohol, or chemical solvents, as moisture and acids can degrade the delicate nacre layers and compromise the organic shell structure.
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