This nativity is a perfect blend between traditional Southwest and contemporary styles. It was created by Tohono Trail pottery artist Peggy Klapheke in 2011.
Contemporary Southwest Nativity
Category Archives: Nativities
Alessi Christmas Baubles
These Christmas Baubles were designed by Marcello Jori for Alessi, and Italian Design Company founded by the Alessi family in 1921. He combines two great traditions, the nativity scene and the decoration of the Christmas tree.
These Baubles are hand painted on an internally mirrored glass base to give the decoration an effect of luminosity and depth.
Alstonia Nativity
This nativity was carved from Alstonia also known as Devil Tree, a tropical tree native to Indonesia, among other countries. The eight figures have a contemporary appearance with simple ornamentation in muted tones.
Jemez Holy Family
This nativity was created by Cindy Fragua in traditional Jemez pottery. All the figures are hand made and hand painted with traditional Jemez Pueblo designs.
Banana Leaf Nativity
This handmade nativity set is handcrafted out of banana fiber by artisans in Kenya. The banana fiber is first dried, then a light varnish applied. Then the dried and varnishes fibers are cut into thin strips which are used to create the figures.
Porcelain Illumination Nativity
This porcelain plate depicts a 15th C. Illumination of Flemish origin. The manuscript, a Book of Hours is currently preserved in the Vatican Library. The almost full-page illumination for the Liturgy of the Hours on Christmas Day depicts a lovely Nativity scene which is greatly inspired by the visions of St. Bridget of Sweden (1303-73).
Embracing Holy Family
This sweet semi-abstract miniature holy family is carved out of stone.
Nativity Retablo
This Peruvian Retablo exemplifies the merger of Spanish Catholicism and Indigenous customs. After converting to Christianity Peruvians embraced the Spanish custom of creating portable shrines or retablos which were used for domestic devotions. These retablos were dedicated to saints or they depicted moments in the life of Jesus. The representation is often rendered in indeginous artistic idioms.
Brazilian Presépio
This playful Brazilian presépio or nativity has 19 painted clay pieces: Joseph, Mary, Jesus in a manger, a stable with silver star, a cactus, an angel, a shepherd, three kings, a donkey, a cow, a donkey, four sheep, a rooster and the plate on which this nativity is exhibited.
Two pieces are of note: the cactus and the rooster. The rooster refers to the legend that a rooster was present in the stable where Jesus was born. Immediately after Jesus’ birth the rooster started to crow, thus announcing the divine birth to the world. The Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve is known as the “Mass of the Rooster” in Brasil and certain other countries such as Spain and Bolivia. One cannot but make an additional connection with the rooster that crowed three times as Peter Denied Jesus. The cactus is a great example of inculturation. As each culture started to depict the nativity they added elements borrowed from their own experience. Whereas Germans and Austrians might add evergreens, people from more arid climates added a cactus.
Bulgarian Nativity Icon
This three-dimensional icon creates the impression of a cave in which the Holy Family is huddled together. In the center the baby Jesus is lying on some straw. The star of Bethlehem shines brightly above Jesus. Mary kneels down in adoration. Joseph holds his left hand to his head in seeming disbelief. The traditional ox and donkey are present.
Beyond the cave a shepherd who is tending his sheep gazes in amazement at the singing choir of angels. The three magi arrive in the distance.
Two inscriptions illuminate the visual message. The scroll above the cave of the Nativity right beneath the singing angels reads as follows though with some difficulty: Δόξα εν υψίστοις Θεω και επί γης ειρήνη which is Greek for “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace.” The two words on either side of the singing angels seem to be Bulgarian: рождество and христово meaning the Nativity of Christ. Though the и in христово is replaced with a Greek ι as in хрιстово.
