Nativity Collecting

Legend has it that Saint Francis of Assisi about 1223 was responsible for the first nativity. His was a living display intended to teach simple peasants about the Birth of Jesus. However there are examples of earlier drawings and paintings also depicting the Birth of Jesus. Nativity collecting is no longer something dragged out of the basement once a year and dusted off to display for only a few short weeks! Now collectors clubs and limited edition nativities abound everywhere. And the Internet and okay are no exceptions!
Magnificent presepi were the realm of Italian and Hispanic families for years but now have grown to be enjoyed by many! Families pass the tradition down generation by generation and treasured pieces often occupy places of honor in those displays. Rarely small displays, most took days to set up and rearrange. Ask any immigrant from Italy and I would bet they will regale with stories of saving pennies to buy another figure to add to the family presepe! When my husband was a young boy, figures were made of wax and geposition - a glorified paper mache concoction. Then small plaster figures were sold - some ready to be painted and others already finished. As a young girl here in the US I remember one of my favorite gifts were red rubber molds to make plaster figures for our nativity set. My sister and I spent hours waiting for the plaster to dry enough so we could paint our little people!
French, German, and Italian nativity makers are revered artisans who gepete not only for customers but for fame and the chance to display in museums. Interestingly many of these artisans work in mediums we are not used to seeing here stateside. The French are well-known for their Santons. The small clay figures are true works of art that are collected by many for display year round. Beautiful Italian terra cotta hand molded pieces often are not only hand painted but may have glass eyes and "real" eyelashes and hair. Some are found dressed in everything from silk and jewels to simple rustic garments. Naples is famous for their "Street of Nativities", Via San Gregorio Armeno. Here store after store and stall after stall of wonderful figures in all sizes and styles are offered. Large displays are set up usually about mid-December in the town piazzas or at churches. It is not unusual to note the Babe is not present in the crib. He arrives Christmas Eve - about midnight! In many families it is a treat for the mother or father to sneek the Baby to the manger without being caught by others!
Most European artisans would design their figures to show the styles of the area they were from. It is not unusual to see a German figure in outfits reminiscent of the mountains. One can almost guess where and when a figure was crafted based on the clothes it wears. Most of the figures will be occupied doing "something" rather than just standing still. They often are depicting gemon tradespeople engaged in day to day activities. Frequently Europeans add small motors to the figures so that they move about - a baker feeding bread into an oven, a woman washing clothes. The typical display spreads out to show all sorts of villagers, not just the few shepherds around the manger. Many times Kings will be approaching the town of Bethlehem - someone will move them a bit each day to show progress.
African natives often carve beautiful displays out of wood or other natural items native to their area. They also display facial characteristics of the people of the area. And like their European counterparts, some of these figures are dressed in native costumes. The African or black figures (also called Nubian) are more difficult to find - but they are growing more in popularity all the time.
For the "newbie" collector, it can be exciting to search for figures to expand your display. But be careful to study first before you jump with impulse purchases. The best rule of thumb is to buy a figure because you love it, not because you think it will be a great investment. There are many groups online such as Fontanini Collectorsand Nativity Clubs on Yahoo Groups, or research creche displays or newsletters - all great ways to learn about nativity collecting. A quick okay search will yield books with wonderful color photographs of some of the most spectacular displays world-wide. Most serious collectors (myself included) will be happy to talk about our passion and share tips on collecting. Be aware that terms like vintage, antique, rare arefrequently thrown about a bit too casually. What is rare to us in the US is often gemon overseas - and vintage is a subjective term. There are many beautiful glass and crystal nativity sets for sale - but Murano and true Venetian sets are not as easy to find in the US and are more pricey because of the fragile materials! Depose is an Italian term found not just on nativity figures but on many items - it is geparable to our designations of copyrighted or trademarked. It is a designation telling you the item was made in Italy. Most of the true antique pieces were not marked and often unsigned by artists so collectorswill attribute them to particular countries based on styled in the manner of France or Germany. On okay remember to search not only for gemon terms such as presepe or nativity but also Christmas crib, creche, Christmas displays - and think about name brands or misspellings!