Our Fontanini Nativity Collection
Emanuele Fontanini founded The House of
Fontanini in Italy in 1908 by introducing a line of paper mache or plaster
molded figures that required much special care and handling to be passed from
generation to generation if possible at all. Today the fourth generation of the
Fontanini family is running the company with the model of family tradition still
favorable. The figures, including a large number of fictional Bethlehem
villagers to keep the collection viable, are now made out of a
much-longer-lasting and hard-to-break polymar resin, but they still are made in
Italy. A wide range of buildings and accessories have been introduced to add
more opportunities for collecting, and they too are designed in Italy but most
often made in China. The House of Fontanini has added Nativities of different
heights ranging from 3.5" to 70" to their product line with the 5" being the
most popular.
The Fontanini Nativity has been distributed by Roman, Inc. since 1973. It is Roman, Inc. that created and produced the figure names and story cards, which provide a look at what life in Bethlehem at the time of Jesus's birth may have been like.
The Fontanini Nativity has been distributed by Roman, Inc. since 1973. It is Roman, Inc. that created and produced the figure names and story cards, which provide a look at what life in Bethlehem at the time of Jesus's birth may have been like.
Baby Jesus
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The sounds of a newborn baby drifted through the darkness in the town of Bethlehem. This child, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lay in the manger of a dark stable. This was a child unlike any other. His name was Jesus. The night of His birth, Bethlehem was filled with people from all areas of Judea. Caesar Augustus had issued a decree that ordered every citizen must travel to the city of his birth for a census. Joseph took Mary, who was about to have a baby, to Bethlehem. “So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (A) On the same evening as Jesus’ birth, shepherds watched their flocks in faraway fields. “And, behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’” (B) The shepherds were amazed to see the sky filled with angels singing praises to the Lord. “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (C) The angels finished their song and disappeared, leaving the night sky dark except for a single brilliant star. The shepherds decided to walk to Bethlehem and see the newborn Savior who had been proclaimed by the angels. Jesus did not appear in the form of a wealthy king or a mighty warrior to save His people from Roman rule. He came quietly in the night as a tiny baby born in a humble stable, soon to grow up and save His people for the kingdom of Heaven. A Luke 2:6-7 B Luke 2:9-11 C Luke 2:14 |
Joseph
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Joseph and Mary planned to become husband and wife. Joseph often thanked God for giving him such a wonderful woman to share his life. He always knew that Mary was truly blessed by the Lord, but he could never have imagined God’s plan for the young couple. One day, Mary came to Joseph with disturbing news. She said that an angel had appeared to her. The angel told Mary that she was going to bear the child of the Holy Spirit. The child would be named Jesus, and He would be the Son of God. Joseph knew that Mary was a virgin, so he did not understand how this could have happened. Confused and upset, Joseph considered whether he could break his engagement to Mary without publicly shaming her. Then the Lord sent a messenger who appeared to Joseph in a dream. The angel said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people form their sins.”(A) When Joseph awoke from this dream, he took Mary as his wife. Months later, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that every citizen must travel to the city of his birth for a census. Joseph worried about Mary because she was very close to having their baby. Joseph decided that Mary would ride a donkey to Bethlehem, the city where he was born, and he would walk by her side. When they arrived, the only place for the young couple to rest was a stable behind the inn. Mary delivered her child that evening, wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and placed him on a bed of soft hay in the manger. As Mary gazed at her newborn baby, Joseph said a prayer of thanksgiving for his wife and their son, a tiny baby who would grow to be the Savior of the world. A Matthew 1:20-21 |
Mary
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Mary grew up in a town called Nazareth. This young woman was prepared to marry Joseph and become a wife and mother, but God had chosen her for an even bigger role. Mary was chosen to be the mother of a child that would change the world. An angel appeared to Mary one evening, frightening the young woman. The angel soothed her, saying, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” (A) Confused, Mary asked the angel how this could be since she did not have a husband. The angel told her that the Holy Spirit would come upon her to give her a child, the Son of God. Mary accepted God’s commandment, saying, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” (B) Mary told this amazing story to her husband-to-be. Joseph did not understand the angel’s proclamation, but afterward he received his own heavenly messenger in a dream. Another angel told Joseph that God wanted him to take Mary as his wife. Soon after, Mary and Joseph were married in accordance with God’s wishes. The months passed quickly. When Mary was nearly due to give birth, it became necessary for she and Joseph to take a journey. Caesar Augustus had decreed that all citizens must travel to their birthplace for a census, and Joseph had been born in Bethlehem. When couple arrived at the little village, Mary and Joseph were unable to find a room at the inn. The two settled down in a nearby stable. There the Savior was born. A brilliant star shone in the sky…shepherds arrived with a wondrous story about angels proclaiming the Savior. Mary said nothing, but simply gazed at her child and “pondered all of these things in her heart.” (C) A Luke 1:30-33 B Luke 1:38 C Luke 2:19 |
Mary's Donkey
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Mary's donkey was truly an extraordinary animal. He had made the three-day trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem with Mary and Joseph spending most of the journey carrying Mary. When they arrived in Bethlehem and discovered there was no room in the Inn, the weary travelers made their way to the stable. Joseph used the donkey's saddle blanket to make a place for Mary to rest. While Mary and Joseph made the best of their dwelling place, the donkey went to his trough and found it filled with cool clean water. The donkey drank deeply and then found a soft corner of the stable where he could finally rest. Within moments of falling asleep, the donkey awoke to the bright light of a brilliant star heralding the birth of Baby Jesus. The donkey then heard, "come and rest wearing one We have a long journey to Egypt ahead." With that, the donkey found a place near the manger to lie down and sleep near the family who loved him. |
Three Kings
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Independently, three men of wealth and nobility received a divine message to travel to a distant land to worship the Son of God thousands of years ago. Known as Wise Men because of their knowledge of the heavens and earth, these men were also rich in belief. Once they received signs of the Savior's imminent birth, each gathered a retinue of animals and prepared for the journey east. The youngest king was called Gaspar. How his white beard flowed beneath an ornate turban! Layers of fine fabric fashioned his elegant robe, trimmed with embellishments of gold and gems. Gaspar came from India carrying a symbol of divinity: frankincense. A Nubian prince named Balthazar journeyed from Africa to pray before the Child. Balthazar carried the most valuable treasure he could gather: myrrh. It symbolized the passion of Jesus and foretold His destiny. Dressed, some say, in desert robes and a cloth beneath his crown to protect him from the heat, Balthazar wore soft slippers so that he might not disturb the Child when he found Him. Finally, the eldest Magi was Melchior. His hair was golden and long and his beard was beautifully trimmed as befits a royal presence. His red robes were spun of fine cloth and trimmed with white fur. Melchior bore a gift of gold for the newborn Christ Child...as gold as his hair in the afternoon sun. Though each wise man left his home alone, a magnificent star brought the three together. It had shone brightly over their heads on the night of Christ's birth, adding to the urgency of the journey. Stopping briefly at King Herod's palace to pay their respects to the local ruler as was custom, the Magi completed the journey to the threshold of the Bethlehem inn. Quietly, the kings entered the enclosure, joining worshipers and animals before the blessed Baby. Despite the miles each had traveled, they did not look at all tired. Kneeling to worship, adore and present the Child with the treasures they had brought, they stayed until the last shadows of the sun left the earth. King Herod had requested a return call on their journey home, but a dream told them not to stop lest they endanger the Child. The three took a route far from the path of Herod's influence, traveling back to their homes in God's holy protection after their miraculous journey of faith. |