Background/Story
Among many vintage Bethlehem Pearl buttons from a collection offered for sale in 2020, this one spoke to me for its pictorial theme and its intricate, fine carving work.
Mother-of-pearl carving has been a traditional handicraft in Palestine (Wikipedia). Carved ocean pearl buttons, originally referred to as “Palestine Pearls” when first introduced in the Just Buttons magazine in November 1948 (NBS member page) became advertised as “Bethlehem Pearls” in the November 1959 (NBS member page). See related buttons and article by Dale Parkhurst on WRBA.
The Good Shepherd (Greek: ποιμὴν ὁ καλός, poimḗn ho kalós) is an image used in the pericope of John 10:1–21 in the New Testament, in which Jesus Christ is depicted as the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep. (Wikipedia)
Johann Sebastian Bach composed a church cantata Ich bin ein guter Hirt (I am a Good Shepherd) and first performed it on April 15, 1725 (Wikipedia:Ich bin ein guter Hirt, BWV 85 ).
Written by MJ
