ANTIQUES – Vintage Creche Sets Keep Their Promise

St. Francis of Assisi is generally credited with having created the first Nativity scene back in 1223.
The truth is that there was already one such a scene, with representations of Mary, Joseph and the child Jesus, as early as the sixth century in the chapel of Holy Mary of the Nativity in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. What Francis did was to popularize the Nativity scene by bringing it, complete with animals, directly to the people in the town square. It was a huge hit.
The scene has come to be known as the Creche, from an old French word for crib, and by the Renaissance you could find it cast in clay, carved in wood, or sculpted in stone in churches and homes throughout Europe.
The Creche has inspired many great artists and composers over the centuries, because it is much more than a representation of the account of the birth of Jesus as found in the second chapter of the Gospel of St. Luke.
The Nativity is also a symbolic depiction of all the levels of the cosmos: The earth and the heavens; Animals, men and angels; The poor and the high-born; The familiar and the foreign – all brought together into a warm and peaceful moment in time.
The hope of the world is in the harmony of the Nativity tableau. Meditating on what is happening in this scene, searching the faces there, brings an inexplicable sense of joy. That’s why many families cherish their Creche sets, often passing them down through generations.
The next time you’re out antiquing, notice the vintage Nativity figures, and partial or complete sets that are on the shelves. Most shops will have some, ranging from the simple to the sublime.
It’s become something of a trend lately to collect just individual pieces and to display them all year long, as you would any other collectible. Creche animals, especially the sheep and camels, as well as the angels, and each member of the Holy Family are particularly popular. And they’re all looking for a new homes where they can work their magic once again.
Appraisals: The most available and least expensive Creche figures were made of molded and painted chalk (plaster-of-Paris) from the late 1920 through the 1950s.
These were usually sold by the piece in bins at the five-and-dime so you could assemble your own set. You can find them now for $1 to $15 each. Richly hand-painted sets featuring, larger figures, usually made in Italy, will command a premium.
Some fine companies have made exquisite sets over the years. What constitutes a complete set is different for each company. A Lenox 2-piece “Innocence” Nativity is about $100, but there are more elaborate sets for several hundred dollars. Hummel’s 15-piece set (#214) is about $2,200. A Lladro 10-figure set is about $1,200.
Arthur Schwerdt, a certified appraiser, is the author of “The Antique Story Book: Finding the Real Value of Old Things,” and co-owner of The August Farmhouse Antiques on Route 9 in Swainton. Send your comments, questions and appraisal requests to aschwerdt@cmcherald.com.