Posted 11 years ago
LaCoursEst…
(41 items)
This is such a beautiful piece of history, although her arm is broken she still has the same angel face that she was meant to, I don't know if this is hand painted or what...
has any one ever come across a doll like this one?
I would love to know something about her
To my eye it looks like it is out of a 'manger'.
Could it be a dressed version of Jesus?
Those gestures remind me of those tableaux round Xmas time.
Ah, I was just about to make the same comment! I suspect that Manikin will be able to substantiate this opinion.
I agree without doubt it is a creche figure of baby Jesus . Beautiful I love it . I do have a question on dating it , on first glance it looks like it was composition but arm that is broke appears to be wood . Is whole figure made of wood ? That is material most often they are found in and yes hand painted by a artist at company that made this . Let me know if it is wood I hope so .that being the case the value soars on him .
These were call santo's creche figures
here is one close to yours
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/antq-wood-carved-santo-baby-jesus-137229280
more info on Santo's Creche
http://www.traditioninaction.org/religious/a030rpSantosProvence.htm
He should be just wearing a drape of material across body not a dress :-)
Thank you everyone!
MANIKIN- Yes it is wood :)
First off he maybe in original gown missing a silk ribbon around waist . he is hand carved then covered in gesso to refine his shape it is the covering you can see over wood . It made for a smooth surface to paint on . He dates most likely from late 1800's . Hard to be exact without holding it but I do have a question are his eyes glass or painted I can't quite make that out on photo . Very collectible and has a very good value ! let me know about eyes ok .
Can I suggest an Italian origin?
Here in Australia we saw more Italian creches known as 'presepi'.
There are famous carving firms in the northern Tirol of Italy who carry on the wood carving skills of their forebears. There are southern traditions of presepi that you can see here:
http://pinterest.com/pollyhmorris/italian-creche-presepe-scenes/
In 1920 Leo Prinoth Sr. founded a wood-carving workshop called LEPI:
http://www.lepionline.com/en/wooden-nativity-sets.php
Names like Perathoner
http://www.perathoner.com/en/history-and-tradition
Prugger, Nocker, Piccolruaz, Vallazza, Kaeser and Perathoner.
How fortunate I was to stumble upon this show and tell item! Not only is it beautiful, but I have learned so much from Manikin and vetraio here! Thank you both for the wonderful links! I especially love the traditioninaction.org link!!!!!, and I shall shortly pass it on to my friends. Bravo to you both, Manikin and vetraio - again!!! : )
Hi vetraio50 your right on It is most likely Italian possibly French . But is a treasure for sure and not abundant to find . Hope all is good in AU. !
Hi Mani.
January was our hottest month ever recorded.
Ironically, today it's cool with intermittent rain.
I think this is a wonderful figure.
I love the eyelashes too.
Those eyes look like they have been inserted too!
Vet I am waiting to hear from poster IF eyes are painted or glass . One eye when I blow up photo on my pc looks like it might be the other makes me think painted . Hope to hear back from them .
Last summer here was hottest ever it was unbearable of coarse we are in winter now and it has been mild with little snow so far But I am ready for spring .
The eyes are inserted, not sure of the material, appears to be glass.
Wow! Thank You EVERYONE!!! I love this place & all that I'm learning, it's life changing ya'll have no idea, thank you again!!!
Your welcome ,We try and help ID items when we can . Your Creche baby Jesus would have glass eyes if they are inserted . He is amazing . I don't give values because they are ever changing but his arm missing does detract from value , fingers can be rebuilt . He would hold 2 fingers more up it was a sign of blessing you . Dating I would stay with late 1800's and you saw myself and vetraio50 agree he is most likely Italian made but French did them very beautifully also as well as other countries . Take good care of him and keep him from extreme temperature changes to cold or hot . I would hope you could find a cradle that looks like manager you could lay him in and he would have had a gold silk ribbon around waist . Hope to see more of you on CW and things you collect . Also feel free to browse others postings . How did you come to find the Jesus was he in your family ? He is made so well he well may have been used in a Church setting vs a person's home .
Hi, all. Vetraio, I didn't doubt your ID, but Manikin's expertise would provide more weight as a 'second' than just mine, so I deferred to our resident doll expert to provide the "second"/substantiation for your ID. I loved the links you provided, vetraio! I saw a few of these when I was trying to find a particular type of creche in the New York MMA this past Christmas. With the links that you and Manikin provided here, I'll get my fill of Christmas nativities -- which seldom happens! : ) Glorious links from you both! One link I particularly loved was Manikin's link to traditioninaction.org -- the spiritual writings I encountered on this website were of very high quality! I highly recommend that link to anyone who's interested in the Christmas narrative, as intepreted by Catholic tradition. LaCoursEstate, so glad to have you on CW! Can't wait to see what you post next. : )
This was given to me from a collector friend of mine, he saw the way my eyes lit up when I first saw him & Knowing I had no idea what I was looking at was fun for him. I'm going to have to bake him some cookies in appreciation. This is so fun! Thank you for welcoming me, you are to kind!