Olivewood cross with abalone onlay. Available in two sizes; please select a size from the drop-down menu below. Because each item was individually crafted by hand, dimensions are approximate and slight variations may occur. All of our mother of pearl and olivewood products are imported from the Holy Land. Mother of pearl refers to the hard internal layer of several kinds of shells, especially that of pearl oysters. Mother of pearl carving is a traditional art form practiced only by artisans in the areas of Bethlehem and Beit Sahour (Shepherds' Field). In most cases, the artisans are descendants of other mother of pearl carvers who have maintained this tradition from before the 17th century. The olivewood used in making our products is of premium quality. All of the wood is aged between three and five years to ensure resistance to decay.