Featured Figures... 1930's? Signed, kind of. Paper-like construction.

Is there a name or company for these kind of figures? Little bits of what look like a signature on the back of each, see pics.

Construction is an interesting material, almost paper-like. German, maybe?

Thanks for taking a look.

 

neat pieces! Paper mache, maybe Italy, like Fontanini nativity pieces
the partial mark might be DEP for Depose

 

Good suggestion, Cx. Using your keywords, found a Fontanini nativity figure with a very similar base. Thanks!

 

Ah.... just found these:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Na...h=item1a63050863:g:rfcAAOSwPfBb14yU:rk:9:pf:0

Although the paint on mine looks older in a way, figure 3 in the Ebay auction is the same mold as one of my set above.

 

lol, I'm sorting through a tub of about 40 Fontanini nativity pieces

 

I recently sold a papier mache nativity camel - it still had the original 59¢ price
written in pencil on the bottom!




I think mine was from the 1950's.

 

The remind me a little of some mid-century dollhouse figures my sister and I had. These figures look to be about the right size... I wonder if kids used them with dollhouses?

 

Pat, if they were the right size, I don't see why not! Some of the ones Lucille showed don't exactly "fit" with the traditional nativity - maybe they made them for "play" purposes, as well?

 

And if they weren't meant to be played with, I bet they were anyway... unless placed out of reach of little hands.

 

Nice set !!! ... Joy.

 

I love them, we used to have a Provençal nativity set with similar figures, about 100 of them. It included houses, village scenes, a windmill, a well. The nativity scene itself was drowned by the other figures.
No, they were never meant to play with. One doesn't play with the Lord and associates.

 

The present day Fontanini sets are like this as well. I think the only limit to what figures you add to your set is how much room you have to work with in your home.

 

Over the course of time, our Nativity scene evolved, Considerably. Almost everything was to scale, and ecumenical, catholic, and in today-speak, very PC.

Along with the usual, there were swans and ducks on a silver pond (mirror), Paddington Bear, the 7 Japanese Gods, a leprechuan or two, a lovely unicorn, a set of penguins, a small smiling Buddha, a very bright pink Mama pig and her three babies, Eeyore, etc., etc.

I bought my favorite piece at the UN gift shop. With the Baby in the middle facing out, and Joseph and Mary on either side -- at the head of the crib was a mennorah (with white birthday candles), guarded by two white angels.

 

Hi,
I have a 36 piece set made by Lenox. Since it all white porcelain it looks like a set made of Blanc de Chine. I have added 7 more pieces of old Parisian to the set plus some pieces that I cast myself out of plaster. I love finding more pieces for sale at yard sales but everyone down here all have the brightly colored pieces. rarely find a pure white piece.
Hi Silver your's sounds wonderful also.
greg

 

Ours too. Starting with a traditional grouping inherited from my wife's parents, additional animals began to arrive, supplementing the original ox, donkey, camel, and sheep. Now we have sea otters, orcas, a red panda, a dinosaur, dogs, cats, goats, birds, an anteater, duck-billed platypus, hedgehogs, a stingray....

 

Do you want to make that 43?

Love how this thread has played out. Can just imagine some of these nativity scenes with the extra characters. Lovely!

Looking back at the sale where I got these, I do believe they were part of a nativity set, and these 3 got left behind. I purchased them on the final day of the sale. In the panic of the first minutes of this sale (and trust me, it was panic-city!) in a box close to where I later got these, was a nativity set mixed in with a bunch of Christmas clutter. I hesitated and thought about digging them all out since they had a cool look, but nativity stuff in general sometimes doesn't sell super high, esp. compared to what might be found elsewhere in the early minutes of this particular sale, so did a quick look for any other older Christmas in the box, found two things (posting later) and left to inspect other rooms. There was so much at this sale, unreal.

I even went back on day 2 AND day 3. I found myself sort of regretting passing on the nativity (but then I wouldn't have gotten the antique sleigh bells --already on Ebay w/bids).

 

antique sleigh bells sound great and you'll probably do better than the nativity set

 

Oh , I remember I broke one of the Wiseman's heads off and my Dad glued it back on ....50 years ago. Now I have a 3 year old son....and my parents are 83.... I will have to introduce him to the nativity this year ....hope it get's him out of his current "I'm a crazy witch, stirring up my brew , what will you give me to put in my stew ?" halloween mood...lol.... He's a pretty good singer for a 3 year 3 month old kiddo !

 

If your son is singing well at age 3, a great sign!

Can just picture the re-glued Wiseman.

Cute story!