Thrift Rescue

As I walked around the thrift store one day last week I spotted the little clay figurine. It was still there after a few weeks of being ignored by all the shoppers -- including me. But this time I decided to bring it home.
It is just a small light brown clay vessel squeezed into an oval shape. It sits on four ball feet. The sides have a wash of white.

Along the upper edge, small striations represent straw.

Inside is a little figure with a round head, three poke marks for eyes and nose, and a curve for a mouth. It’s a little baby!

While the manger is whitewashed, the blanket is a small swath of blue:

I wonder who made this little representation of the Savior in the manger. On the bottom there are illegible markings, probably a name and date.

This little clay piece deserved to be rescued since someone, one day, thought of the Baby Jesus as an appropriate subject for a little work of art in clay.

Considering the blue blanket, this post is linked to Blue Monday.

Blue Monday is sponsored by our gracious Sally at Smiling Sally.. Please visit her for more participants.
Because someone took a lump of clay and transformed it into a representation of Christ’s nativity, it is also being linked to Metamorphosis Monday

Metamorphosis Monday, is hosted by Susan of Between Naps on the Porch.
See more transformations at her blog.

Since this is handmade product, I am also linking to Handmade Holiday.

Handmade Holiday is hosted by Kathy at Kathy's Cottage. See more interesting handmade items for the holidays at Kathy's Cottage

Selected Nativity Bells

Christmas bells with a nativity theme provide an easy way to have a decorative touch on your desk, table or shelf.

Here are a few examples from the Carola Nativity collection; five of the seven have blue in their design:
First up is a ceramic blue and white “Journey to Bethlehem Bell.” It is from Hallmark Cards, Inc. Made in Thailand, it is dated 2001.
It has a blue ground with a white relief illustration of Bethlehem. The handle is a sculpture of Mary/ Baby Jesus/ Joseph.
White gauze ribbon loop for hanging.

This beige ceramic is carved with nativity scene around entire bell. Made in the Philippines.
5”T. On inside of bell: ”National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows – Belville, Illinois. Made in the Philippines.”
Front of bell: Ox/ Lamb/ Mary/ Baby Jesus/ Joseph/ Lamb/ Donkey
Back: Four more lambs, with small stars sprinkled above them.

Porcelain bell, fired in Bethlehem. "Glad Tidings" by Robert E. Ahlcrona for Royal Cornwall. Fired in Israel.
6.5” tall. Bishop Maximus of Nazareth and Galilee signed each piece, along with his official seal stamped on each. The Archimandrite Gregorio Chief Abbot of Bethlehem also signed each piece and they are each stamped with his seal. The Artist, Robert E. Ahlcrona also signed each Glad Tidings piece. "Glad Tidings " is an original painting by the contemporary master artist Robert Edgar Ahlcrona.
The Angel announces Christ’s birth to Shepherds.
On the back: Inscription about this edition.

This cream ceramic Nativity Scene Bell is by Homco (American) Made in Taiwan.
It is 6” tall and the handle depicts the Star of Bethlehem.
On the front: Pastel picture of Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus and reclining lamb
Back: Three standing lambs
The next two bells are part of a long series of Christmas bells. They are both 6" tall and made in West Germany using the art of Sister Berta Hummel and produced by Schmid Bros..

The first is 36 years old, made in 1973.
On the front: White ground with color illustration of 2 Angels/Joseph/ Baby Jesus/ Mary/Lamb

On Back "Christmas 1973" in gold.

"Angel’s Light" is dated 1990.
On the front: A white ground with a color illustration of an Angel with a large candle with Baby Jesus in the manger.

On Back "Christmas 1990" in gold.

From Spain is this white and lavender bisque porcelain Nativity bell. The maker is Lladrò and it is 3 ¼” tall. “Embossed with a nativity scene of Joseph/Jesus/Mary in snowy Bethlehem, it is banded in light lavender over white bisque.” Dated 1991 on front, it has a lavender ribbon for hanging.




This post is linked to Blue Monday and Three or More Tuesday.

Blue Monday is sponsored by our gracious Sally at Smiling Sally.. Please visit her for more participants.

Three or More Tuesday is sponsored by Tam at The Gypsy's Corner. Please visit her for more participating posts.