Mystery mother of pearl fragment - 3 magi - Photos

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Mystery mother of pearl fragment - 3 magi

Posted by Betty on August 23, 2014 at 8:02pm

These fragments were in the possession of my husbands late aunt who left Russia as a young girl in the 1920s. Since the family lived in various places before settling in Germany, it is hard to say where these pieces are from or what they once were part of.Strictly speaking no jewellery - but Peter's wooden Bulgarian cross with mother of pearl inlays inspired me to show these...

Comments

Eva Baby August 24, 2014 at 2:30pm

it is beautiful, Betty! I do not know anything about its former use, but it is very beautiful.
Betty August 24, 2014 at 3:15pm

Thank you Eva!

They are usually stowed away in a box. Must find a way to display them...
Stefany Tomalin August 29, 2014 at 6:39pm

Sizes??

a lot of lovely and simple carved mother-of-pearl shell work was done in "the holy land" for pilgrim souvenirs- some have "bethlehem" or "Jerusalem" carved on the back.

will try to find my 1800's examples to show...
Stefany Tomalin August 29, 2014 at 6:48pm

here is one of the pair that i have- yours looks finer but might come from eastern mediterranean as well...
maybe i have to send it separately-
Stefany Tomalin August 29, 2014 at 6:52pm

The other:
Betty August 30, 2015 at 12:24am

Dear Stefany, incredibly I only found your comments now while looking for sth.. else!

Thanks a lot for showing your lovely pieces and for the most interesting information. The size of the round parts with the depiction of the holy family etc. is smaller than yours, around 5cm/2" in diameter (I don't have them with me right know, but one can see the dimension here: https://ethnicjewels.ning.com/photo/mystery-mother-of-pearl-fragment...!/photo/mystery-mother-of-pearl-fragment-3-magi?context=user)

Again, many thanks and apologies for this VERY late reply...