An inlaid olive wood model of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem, Palestine, before 1674

the elaborate model composed in sections, inlaid on the exterior and interior with mother-of-pearl, ebony and ivory

In fairly good condition, parts of mother-of-pearl inlay inlays missing, possibly missing wooden sections, notably dome, roof of tower, and room interior, very minor knicks consistent with age, as viewed.
"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."

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is one of the most prized monuments in Christianity, built as it is over the reputed site of the tomb of Christ. As such, in the medieval period, it was seen by both pilgrims and crusaders as the centre of the world. This is indicated on the model by the inclusion of the names of the cardinal points on the roof.

As the focus of so much interest for pilgrims, the Church became a favoured subject for depiction on souvenirs. These models, perhaps the most elaborate of all of the souvenirs of this period, were made by monks in the nearby monasteries. An identical model is in the National Museum of Denmark (Copenhagen 1996, p.344, no.317). Inventories record that this had entered the collections before 1674 (Dam-Mikkelsen and Lundbaek 1980, p.90, no.EFa3b). Another example is in the British Museum, formerly in the collection of Sir Hans Sloane (inv. no. M&ME Sloane 153). These very elaborate pieces were extremely costly and consequently were purchased only by the wealthiest of travellers.