original nativity scenes

An original set of Christmas ornaments, these tiny retablos celebrate the birth of Jesus. Retablos were originally intended as altar pieces featuring different scenes from the Bible. Alejandro Chavez handcrafts the miniature nativity scenes from plaster of Paris. Each character is shaped and painted individually and painted with bright hues.

With this inspiring nativity scene Jose Canil Ramos preserves a tradition that began in Guatemala on Christmas of 1649. Back then, Holy Brother Pedro de Betancourt set up a nativity scene he had brought with him from the Canary Islands in Tenerife. In Canil's original version, the Three Wise Men bring a pineapple, a watermelon and a chicken as gifts from Guatemala. Ramos carves each figurine by hand from pinewood that was weathered and dried during the summer months. The characters' florid robes are painted by hand, and they stand on brown wood bases. Archangel Gabriel's wings are detachable. Including the bed, ox and donkey, this nativity set features 10 pieces.

Zoila Davila celebrates Christmas in the Amazon Valley, depicting the Holy Family as Shipibo people. Shepherds bear rainforest gifts — a fish, bananas and a coconut. The Shipibo are a Panoan-speaking culture living near the headwaters of the Amazon. Although they maintain much of their original way of life, they have also adapted some contemporary urban customs. The manger is a piece of fabric with traditional Shipibo motifs.

Alejandro Chavez in Peru presents this lovely set of three small nativity scenes. The sculptures and the tiny figures within are crafted from ceramic and carefully painted by hand.

Peru's Alejandro Chavez presents this charming set of three small nativity scenes. The sculptures and the tiny figures within are crafted from ceramic and carefully painted by hand.

This delightful set of three holiday retablos is created by Peru's Alejandro Chavez. Artisans craft the three mini retablos from wood, placing small hand-painted ceramic figures within. One features a traditional nativity scene; another shows the three Wise Men on their way to Bethlehem. The third features three whimsical Santas bearing gifts, accompanied by a teddy bear.

Make your holiday extra special with this set of four ornaments from Alejandro Chavez in Peru. Each ornament is a tiny retablo, complete with a hand-painted nativity scene within. The four ornaments are each painted in a different color scheme and arrive ready to hang from golden cords.