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

Discussion in 'Antique Discussion' started by Lucille.b, Oct 29, 2018.

  1. Lucille.b

    Lucille.b Well-Known Member

    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.

    peop3.jpg peop4.jpg peop5.jpg peop6.jpg peop3.jpg

    aap.jpg
     
  2. cxgirl

    cxgirl Well-Known Member

    neat pieces! Paper mache, maybe Italy, like Fontanini nativity pieces:)
    the partial mark might be DEP for Depose
     
  3. Lucille.b

    Lucille.b Well-Known Member

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

    Lucille.b Well-Known Member

  5. i need help

    i need help Moderator Moderator

  6. cxgirl

    cxgirl Well-Known Member

    lol, I'm sorting through a tub of about 40 Fontanini nativity pieces:)
     
  7. SBSVC

    SBSVC Well-Known Member

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

    img0 (3).jpg
    img0 (4).jpg

    I think mine was from the 1950's.
     
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  8. Pat P

    Pat P Well-Known Member

    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?
     
  9. SBSVC

    SBSVC Well-Known Member

    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?
     
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  10. Pat P

    Pat P Well-Known Member

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

    Christmasjoy Well-Known Member

    Nice set !!! ... Joy.
     
    Lucille.b, judy and i need help like this.
  12. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    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.:eek: One doesn't play with the Lord and associates.:angelic::playful:
     
  13. bercrystal

    bercrystal Well-Known Member

    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.
     
  14. silverthwait

    silverthwait Well-Known Member

    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.

    :)
     
  15. gregsglass

    gregsglass Well-Known Member

    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
     
  16. all_fakes

    all_fakes Well-Known Member

    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....
     
  17. Lucille.b

    Lucille.b Well-Known Member

    Do you want to make that 43? :wacky:

    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).
     
  18. cxgirl

    cxgirl Well-Known Member

    antique sleigh bells sound great and you'll probably do better than the nativity set:)
     
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  19. Firemandk

    Firemandk Well-Known Member

    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 !
     
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  20. Lucille.b

    Lucille.b Well-Known Member

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

    Can just picture the re-glued Wiseman.

    Cute story!
     
    Pat P likes this.
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