Where did this go?
This carving is said to be from the Church of Abu Serga in Old Cairo, Egypt. In 13th century Egypt, although the rulers were Muslim, there were still a number of Christians living and worshipping there. The Church of Abu Serga was very old; it was originally built in the fourth century and witnessed the long history of Christianity in Egypt. This church was said to have been built on the spot where Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus rested at the end of their journey into Egypt. Though the piece was made by Mamluk woodworkers, Christian communities of Egypt and Syria bought their objects and architectural decorations for their churches. This piece is an example of this cross-cultural trade as well as an example of a piece of art that was important to multiple religions.