Vintage Celluloid Nativity Ornaments

It truly is amazing to see the great variety of depictions of the Christmas story of Jesus’s birth. I recently acquired eight old nativity figure ornaments that seem to be made of celluloid. Each figure is encircled by an ornate brown cathedral style celluloid "frame". Incised on the back edge of five of the ornaments is "Made in Italy." Each of the figures are in 3-D relief and vary in size from about 2-1/2" high to 4" high; each ornament has a depth of about 1/2". The ornaments are exquisitely detailed right down to the fingers and faces on each figure -- though my photos do not do them justice.
The top of each ornament has its original fixed small brass style metal loop for hanging.

The first three ornaments are in a short arch:
Virgin Mary - approx. 2-1/2" across x 2-7/8" high
Baby Jesus - 2-3/4" high x 2-3/4" across.
Joseph - 3" across x 3" high.

Three Wise Men are in a pointed arch – each 4" high x 1" across. One is bare-headed, another wears a turban, and the third, a crown.

The two musicians are also in a pointed arch – each 4" high x 1" across. Many Italian nativities feature musicians. This set has two:
Musician with long horn
Musician with bagpipes

Note the cross above the heads of the figures in the narrow frames:

Since Christmas has now become more and more secular, most of the ornaments available cover non-religious themes. However, each year more and more artists and manufacturers focus on the theme of Jesus’ nativity. This helps us to focus on the Christ of Christmas.

May You Each Enjoy a Blessed Christmas!

This post is linked to Vintage Thingies Thursday. See more Vintage Thingies Thursday posts listed by Suzanne at Coloradolady.

Mud People Nativity With Gift Bearers

In a recent post we looked at examples of European nativities including the little figures called mud (clay) people figurines or mud dolls. Souvenirs of Spain, these two-inch figures depict the peoples of various regions of Spain and various aspects of Spanish life. They are also sometimes referred to as "the poor man’s Lladro" in contrast to the fine porcelain figures put out by the Lladro firm. As promised, today's post gives a closer look at this delightful series.

My 18-piece set has two groups: the typical nativity scene and the gift bearers.

This is list of figures that came with the set, their names in Spanish and English:
Nativity Scene

Nino Jesus - Baby Jesus

Virgen Maria - The Virgin Mary
San Jose - St. Joseph
Note the halos on Joseph and Mary. Don’t the gold discs look like hats?

Rey Melchior - King Melchior
Rey Gaspar - King Gaspar
Rey Baltasar - King Baltasar
Everyone has a wide-eyed surprised look on their face, including the three kings:

Angelito - Little Angel

Buey - Cow warming the manger
Mulita - Mule Mary rode to Bethlehem; also helped to warm the manger.

Gift Bearers Each one brings what he can to the baby:
Pastor con Pollo - Shepherd with a chicken.
Pastor con Saco Harina - Shepherd with a sack of flour.
Pastor con Oveja - Shepherd with a sheep

Pastor con Marranillo - Shepherd with piglets.
Pastor con Pan - Shepherd with a load of bread.
Pastor con Sandia - Shepherd with a watermelon.
Pastor con Cantaro - Shepherd with a jar of honey.
Pastor con Cesta - Shepherd with a homemade basket.
Pastor Tocando Zambomba - Shepherd playing a zambomba; unique Spanish noise making instrument.

All their gifts refer to local trades and foodstuffs.
Among the gift bearers is one who presents a piglet for his gift... Everyone brings his gift, even though this would be most inappropriate for a Jewish baby!

Only one of the little pastores (shepherds) brings a lamb.

My set just includes the 18 pieces listed above. However, there are a large variety of little mud people available to add to your nativity – bakers, farmers, bullfighters, dancers, priests, choir boys, famous saints, -- even Don Quijote and Sancho Panza from Miguel Cervantes’ novel! There are also figures in typical dress from various regions of Spain.
Additions available for the biblical scene are stable, manger, camels, camels keepers, the wise men on camels, Roman soldiers, well, bridge, campfire, and other accessories.

Here are a few photos I found online of these whimsical clay figurines. From eons.com is this scene with a variety of local color.
On Flickr I found one collector who photographs a store display and indicates on each "lo tengo" (I have that one!)

Then he shows one of his displays with the figures in a setting with houses:

This Flickr user, macfacizar, also showed step by step as he sets up a large panorama. This is what Spanish belenistas (nativity builders) do each year in Spain. He also showed several mosiacs of his figures in their setting:

Thank you for visiting. I hope you enjoyed seeing more about the mud people figurines. Do come again soon. I will continue to share items from the collection for your interest.

Not quite vintage, these figures were first made in the 1970’s , so I will link to Vintage Thingies Thursday. Please visit Suzanne at ColoradoLady for more Vintage Thingies Thursday posts.

Vintage Nativity Ornaments – Jewelbrite

For today's entry I thought I’d focus on two sets of 1950's vintage nativity ornaments, made of brightly colored plastic manufactured under the name Jewelbrite by Decor.

The first set is shaped like spheres. Each has an open front with a silver color background in front of which is a three-dimensional scene. The red one has 2 Shepherds and a sheep; the blue one has 2 Wise Men; and the yellow one has Mary, Joseph & Baby Jesus in the manger.

The second set has a lantern shape and also an open front with a silver color background. The green one and the blue one each has a Wise Man with Camel; and the yellow one has Mary, Joseph & Baby Jesus in the manger.

Please visit ColoradoLady for more Vintage Thingies Thursday posts.

Vintage Plate by Hudson Fine Pewter

The item I am sharing today was made in Massachusetts, in 1979 by Hudson Fine Pewter. The plate is 5 3/4 inches in diameter, and was published in a Limited Edition.



Depicted on the plate is a manger scene with angels and sheep around the Baby Jesus. It was sculpted by Albert C. Petitto. The detail is very fine.


The back of plate reads:
"While Jesus lay asleep in peace,
radiant with love,
God sent his littlest angels
with candles from above
– RoseMary"

The border of the plate has a finely detailed design of poinsettias, holly berries and leaves. In addition, four bows help to anchor the design.

Please visit Colorado Lady for more Vintage Thingies Thursday posts.

Vintage Thingies Thursday – Three Book Illustrations

For today’s vintage subject I’d like to share three framed illustrations from a book
titled 'A Talking Book- The First Christmas Morning' story by Minnie Lake. Narrator Frank Phillips. Illustrations by John Mansbridge; Music by Leslie Bridgewater; Produced by Nicholas Sandor; A TPL production in cooperation with Religious Films Ltd., London. Trade Distributors Horace Marshall & Son LTD Temple House, Temple Avenue London. 1948.

I bought these three prints from the book in 2005 from an eBay dealer in England. The frames were bought at Michaels.

The first print is "Mary, Newborn Jesus, Joseph, Shepherds." In the center we see Mary with the reclining Babe in arms, and Joseph nearby. On the left are shepherds and a lamb, and on the right an ox, donkey and sheep.

The second print shows "Joseph Welcoming Three Kings." In the left foreground we see an animated Joseph at door motioning the three visitors to come in.

The third print is "Angel Announces Jesus Under Star." Here the Angel under the Star announces Jesus’ birth to shepherds in field with their flock.

I enjoy the composition of the illustrations. They each provide a fresh view of the nativity story.

Please visit Suzanne at Coloradolady for more Vintage Thingies posts.

Vintage Thingies Thursday – Antique Photogravure

For this week’s Vintage Thingies Thursday entry I will share an antique print. It was published by Gebbie & Husson in 1889. The title printed in the lower margin reads, "Nativity Night, Shepherds, Sheep Goats."


This photogravure was based on the original painting by Henry Rankin Poore (1859-1940). With an 8" x 9" image area it was printed on heavy-weight paper, with the reverse left blank. The paper measures 11.5" x 17".


Though it does have some light foxing on the far outside margin edges, the print remains in very good condition with the image area crisp and clean. I was happy to add it to the collection in 2006.

This very expressive picture shows the shepherds discussing what has been revealed to them by the angels.

"When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
"So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. "When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
"and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
Luke 2:15-18

Please visit Colorado Lady for more Vintage Thingies Thursday posts.

Vintage Nativity Postcards

At the turn of the twentieth century postcards were a favorite way of sending greetings to family and friends. A part of my nativity collection items category includes Christmas postcards. Here are some of the vintage ones.

This color postcard with gilt nativity scene is published by Whitney. Made in Worcester, Mass., USA. 5 ½"Lx3 ½"H
Three Wise Men on Camels follow the brilliant Star. Decorated with green and red holly sprigs.

Text on front: "The Lord Bless Thee and Keep Thee/ The Lord Make His Face to Shine Upon Thee/ And Be Gracious Unto Thee/ This Christmas Time Dear Friend."

Another postcard with a vintage nativity scene was published by Kopplemann, made in USA.
5 ¼"Wx3 ½"H.

A panoramic color scene: Shepherds and sheep, three figures, Donkey and Ox/ Joseph/Mary and Baby Jesus/ one kneeling figure/ procession of Three Wise Men on Camels/ Star above.

Written on back: "Visit Hartford Dec. 18 to Jan 1/ A striking reproduction of the Nativity Scene, with life-size figures before a 100-foot lighted stage set, graces the lawn of Hartford’s Old State House during the Christmas season."

The next postcard was published by Eliasson in Norway. It is a color reproduction of a painting of Mary and Joseph's Flight to Egypt by Jenny Nystrom.

On back of card: "God Jul/ Gott Nytt Ar" Merry Christmas/ Happy New Year.

A color nativity scene and greeting, this postcard is from Concordia Publishing House. Made in St. Louis, MO, USA. 5 3/8"Lx3 ½"H
Four shepherds gaze at the Babe in the manger, while Mary and Joseph look on.

Text under print: "‘Ye shall find the BABE…..lying/ in a manger’ Luke 2.12."

Text of Greeting on front: "All good wishes for Christmas/ and New Year Cheer!/ May He who on this blessed day/ Was born an infant small/ To you His love and joy display/ And be your all in all!"
















For more Vintage Thingies Thursdays posts, go to Coloradolady.

Vintage Thingies Thursday - Thrifted Stable

For quite some time I did not have a stable large enough to hold my 12 to 13 inches tall French santons set. While in the community thrift store I saw a very sad looking stable made of twigs. Since it was only three dollars I decided to buy it and see how it would look with the figures.

The figures fit in just nicely.

Here other figures are displayed with the stable.

When funds permit, I will get a more appropriate stable for the santons -- preferably one from the Provence region of France where the figures were made.

In another post I will talk about santons from France in detail and show the set.

Please visit Lisa for more VTT posts.

Vintage Thingies Thursday – Thrift Store Nativity

My vintage item came from a local thrift store. It is a creche tableau and on the bottom is stamped "Made in Italy".

The stable is different from the stables in most of my nativity scenes in that it is designed as a cave. Luke 2:7 indicates that the Babe was placed "in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn." Many historians indicate that the original birthplace was in fact a cave where the animals would be kept. The manger would have been a feed trough for the animals.
The material used for the structure is some sort of paper mache. There is some damage to the roofline.

The figures are handpainted and glued in place.

The group gathered are the Wise Men on the left, the family in the middle and the shepherds on the right.

The dusty condition of the piece shows that it was no longer used and hadn't been used for a long time. I was glad to buy it for my collection for the sum of $3.00.
To see more vintage things, please visit Lisa at Confessions of an Apron Queen for a list of participating posts.