An impressive Mother of Pearl Icon, 19th Century

depicting the Last Supper and the Nativity, the frame is crowned by a representation of the resurrection of Christ, surrounded by carved, floral motifs

A small fragment of the mother of pearl has broken away from the wood and the ornament that hangs down over the head of Christ has similarly come loose. Both would be easily repairable. Two small sections of the mother of pearl are missing from the edges and a fragment has chipped away from the top of the icon. In overall good condition. We would advise prospective buyers to view.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

It was a custom amongst pilgrims to the Holy Land to bring such icons back with them from their travels. The city of Bethlehem had a tradition of Mother of Pearl carving, an art form that was introduced by Franciscan friars from Damascus in the fourteenth century and subsequently developed into a thriving trade. The first exhibition in the west of such Mother of Pearl artifacts from Palestine was held In 1852 by two brothers, Giries and Ibrahim Mansur, at the World Fair in New York and enjoyed considerable success
This icon is a particularly fine example of the skilled technique that could be attained by the craftsmen of such pieces and is unusual both for its significant size and the intricacy of its carving.  
A very similar work  from Palestine can be found in the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, depicting the Resurrection of Christ containing pieces of the Holy Sepluchre and Golgotha, by Bishar Issa II Zugubi with his brother Joseph and son Gabriel, which is inscribed with a dedication: To his Autocratic Majesty the Tsar and His Heir, Grand Prince Alexei Nikolayevich, the blessing of the Holy Tomb. Patriarch Daminian 1910. That particular work was among the most valuable presents from the Patriarch of Jerusalem to Grand Prince Alexei Nikolayevich at Easter 1910. See Sinai Byzantium Russia, Orthodox Art from the Sixth to the Twentieth Century, p.453, The Saint Catherine Foundation in association with The State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg.