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“SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE”

Design Trends of the Mid-20th Century

By Donald-Brian Johnson

This Month’s Feature—

“Away In A Manger: Nativity Sets Of The World”

“And she bought forth her first-born St. Francis felt that, for many of Left: The principal Christmas figures, nestled inside a porcelain, resin, and 24k gold egg. Marked
son, and wrapped him in swaddling his congregation, Christmas had lost “Limited Edition, House of Faberge, The Franklin Mint, made in China”. 4-1/2” h., $250-300.
clothes, and laid him in a manger.” its true meaning. A “living Nativity” Center: A colorful Venezuelan plaque features all the familiar Nativity personages, plus visiting
would bring the story closer to villagers. 12” h., $75-125. Right: DN 21: A painted Nativity scene is featured on this cross-shaped
pine plaque. Marked “Starry Night, Made in El Salvador, Vallee El Porvenir”. 14” h., $25-35.
In Germany, it’s called a them. The village of Greccio, near
Weihnachtskrippe. Spaniards Assisi, was restyled as Bethlehem; “living Nativities”. One of the most hand-crafted, a time-consuming and
know it as a naciamento. Italians local shepherds (and their livestock) spectacular has been featured at New costly process. The scenes became
say presepio; for the French, it’s a starred as the main characters. York’s Radio City Music Hall. increasingly more elaborate, with the
crèche. Since that starry night in On Christmas Eve, torch-bearing Figural representations were humble inhabitants of Bethlehem’s
Bethlehem two thousand years ago, villagers arrived to experience, popularized in the fifteenth and stable decked out in fine linens and
the celebration of Christmas has in person, the wonder of the sixteenth centuries by the Jesuits. brocades, and the crowns of the Wise
almost always included crèche. These Nativity scenes in European Men dotted with precious jewels.
some scenic tribute to the Nativity dramas became churches were fashioned of wood, Those who could not afford such
Nativity. From simple a much-anticipated annual terra cotta, stone, fabric, or metal. splendor often crafted manger scenes
representations of the social event, but the boisterous They could be nearly full-size, half- from whatever materials were at
three principal crowds eventually proved size, or miniature, depending on hand. As Christianity spread, this
figures— too much space, and were often backed by a form of self-expression flourished.
the for somber realistic stable setting. The influence of individual cultures
Holy cathedrals. By the early seventeenth century, can be seen to wonderful advantage
Family these displays were also found in in Nativity sets from around
of ↑ Elegant simplicity from Spain. Six composite homes, a custom that had its roots the world. Each interpretation
Jesus, Mary, pieces, tallest figure 13”. $225- 275. in southern Italy. In some European incorporates indigenous materials,
and Joseph—Nativity sets have By the late countries, devout families even kept and envisions the principal Nativity
grown to include figurines of almost sixteenth century, a manger scene on display year- characters with a sensibility inherent
everyone even remotely connected Nativity re- round. Early home crèches were to the locale. A Zulu rendition of
to the Christmas story. In addition to enactments had From Mexico, a five piece clay set the Holy Family, fashioned from
the expected—angels, shepherds, the moved to town incorporating traditional costuming. Marked fabric, beads, wood, and straw, may
Three Kings, and a varied assortment squares, eventually “Hermos. Mario y Miguel Meneloza-Jopey”. seem to have little correlation to a
of friendly beasts—many modern disappearing from ↑ A Zulu interpretation of Tallest figure, 5-3/4”. ($35-50) ↓ Renaissance religious painting. There
manger scenes also incorporate view. The tradition the Nativity, produced by is, however, a strong bond between
mythic secular characters. Current re-surfaced in the African group Kwa Zigi the two: the universality of the
Bethlehem visitors include little the twentieth Gimi. Three pieces in fab- Christmas story.
drummer boys, homeless kittens— century, with ric, beads, wood, & straw. Today, manger scenes continue
Tallest figure, 3”. $50-75.
even kneeling Santas. many communities to be re-imagined in countless
Early pilgrimages to the Holy again staging ways. For many, however, the
Land served as inspiration for the “real” Nativity set will always
Nativity scene tradition, and a sixth be the one that has been handed
century Roman basilica, “Holy Mary down from generation to generation.
of the Nativity”, featured the first The plaster may be chipped on this
three-dimensional figures. It was, piece, the paint a bit faded on that
however, several more centuries one. A donkey may be missing a
before the concept of a figural foot; there may be a Bethlehem Star
Nativity scene really took hold. In ↑ “Raku” pottery from South Africa, made by the Ndebele tribe, that stubbornly refuses to light. But
the meantime, there were the “living and marked “African Express, Inc., 1995”. Tallest figure, 7”. $250-275. still, these visual reminders of the
Nativities” of the Middle Ages, Christmas story continue to inspire,
A carved wood assembly from Ireland, eight
staged in churches by costumed This American Indian tribute pieces mounted with pegs. 7” h., $75-125. ↓ some two thousand years on.
to the Nativity replaces the
performers. The earliest and most traditional stable with a teepee.
famous of these was created by St. Ten pieces, in ceramic and Merry Christmas!
Francis of Assisi in 1223. fabric, marked “Nova 5 Inc.,
Albuquerque, New Mexico”. Photos by Leslie Piña
Teepee, 18” h. $400-500. ↓ Photo Associates: Ramon Piña
& Hank Kuhlmann
Donald-Brian Johnson and
Leslie Piña are the co-authors
of numerous Schiffer books on
design and collectibles. Dr. Piña
is also the co-author of “Nativity
Crèches of the World” Please
address inquiries (or holiday
greetings) to: donaldbrian@
msn.com