In a recent 'News, Views . . .' I added a shot of an 'off the shelf' nativity scene/ready-made set I got from a charity shop a year
or two ago, I actually got two, and the other is also in the queue, but in the
meantime Brian Berke sent us a few shelfie shots he took in New York the other
day, in part to confirm my suggestion that you can still get these craft sets (last two shots) if you look
around for them, and in part because it's Christmas!
The seller was describing them all as
'ceramic' but these look to me to be poured resin, the sharp-edged detailing
and the amount of dislodged polystyrene balls from the expanded packaging trays
point to that, and both sets are short of what seems to be the average of 12
pieces, but still give you the Holy family trio, three wise men and a
smattering of shepherds' & stable-animals, the set to the right also gives you
an angel!
These are ceramic, and there seems to be five
or six Mary's, at least three Little baby Jesus's, assorted Kings/Wise Men and
an angel, but Shepherds are thin on the ground and Joseph has obviously stepped
outside to look at the Star! Pick & Mix, or mix-and-match Nativity
Rather like how the French Santons,
Italian Precepi or Spanish terracotta figures (what's their Spanish
name?) are sold, indeed, the larger ranges from Fontanini in the smaller sizes (40, 60 & 80mm) were sold the
same way, so you could add one or two support characters - rural
subjects/artisans, or another camel - every year or so.
Available now! Just like my 'vintage' one;
which may not be that old - see future post? The same 'crafted' wooden stable,
the same moss; green and soft for the first few years, and similar sets of
slipware (hollow) 'fairing' figures in china-clay or bisque porcelain, glued to
the base, any mess hidden by the mossy carpet of 'straw', indeed some sets have
straw, or hay.
Many thanks to Brian for these, as stated
above; they're all out there now. We'll be looking at a few more Nativity sets,
interspersed with Chris's donation posts, for the next few days.
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