Italian School, Nativity Scene in Gilt Wood Shrine, 1900, Wood

Details

Description

A beautiful Italian Christmas nativity scene dating to around 1900, presented within an elaborately decorated and gilded wooden shrine.

The … Read more A beautiful Italian Christmas nativity scene dating to around 1900, presented within an elaborately decorated and gilded wooden shrine.

The finely modelled terracotta figures depict the Holy Family accompanied by the traditional animals of the Nativity, set within a rustic landscape beneath a deep blue, star-studded backdrop. The surrounding architectural shrine is richly gilded and ornamented with carved decorative elements, creating a theatrical setting for the sacred scene.

Nativity scenes have a long tradition in Italian art and devotional culture, particularly following the development of the elaborate Neapolitan presepe tradition. Such displays brought the story of Christ's birth into an intimate, three-dimensional setting and became treasured objects for both private devotion and festive display.

A particularly charming example, combining religious subject matter with the decorative character of late 19th- and early 20th-century Italian craftsmanship.

Italy, circa 1900
Gilded wood shrine
Terracotta figures

Dimensions:
Height: 81 cm
Width: 62 cm
Depth: 35 cm See less