Like most manufacturers of porcelain figurines, Lladro has nativity sets. The Christmas season is too important in the Christian world to overlook the possibilities of selling figurines as that important time of year. So, Lladro has a number of possibilities if you are looking for a new creche this year, for yourself or as a gift.

Lladro has two basic types of nativities. The first is the usual full complement of characters in a stable: Mary Joseph, Jesus, three wise men and their mounts, shepherds and their sheep, an angel, and a donkey and ox, original occupants of the stable. The other is actually three or five figures in one piece. The three figures common for all these one piece nativities in, of course, Mary, Joseph and Jesus. In one case the designers at Lladro have added a donkey and an ox to the group. These multiple figures in one piece may have some backdrop or enclosure method to imply the stable.

For the nativities with multiple figures, there seem to be two sets of molds. One set is called “medium”, in which the standing figures are approximately twelve inches tall. The pieces are sold separately, or you can find related pieces sold as a set, like Mary, Joseph and Jesus, or the three wise men. The full creche includes: Mary, Joseph, Jesus, a shepherdess with a sheep (also called “The Lost Lamb”), a shepherd with two sheep, the three wise men unmounted, a camel, an ox, a donkey and a stable-like formation of walls, clouds and angels to use as a backdrop. This set is realistically colored. The same molds are used to produce two other nativity sets, one using the Lladro “gres” materials and techniques and perhaps called “Silent Night”, and one called Re-deco, in which the figures are white porcelain with gold highlights. You can recognize these nativities by the kneeling and stooped posture of Joseph.

The second set of nativity figures are called “small”. Only the three main characters are included: Mary Joseph and Jesus. Joseph is kneeling on a staff and is about nine inches tall. This nativity is more serene and perhaps a little more modern in style than the “medium” nativity.

Nao by Lladro also has a nativity set, winch includes Mary, Joseph, Jesus, a donkey, an ox and the three wise men. I saw two different stables, one obviously made of porcelain and one that looks like a wood stable. The dimensions for the wood stable are 19 inches by 17 inches by 4 inches, so the standing Joseph appears to be about twelve inches tall. The style is somewhere between the peaceful “small” creche and the somewhat dramatic “medium” set.

The all-in-one nativities are given specific names. Thes are the ones I found:

• “Holy Family” has the three main characters attached together in a piece almost nine inches tall, with natural colors, and has a fairly modern look.
• “Blessed Family” is also the three main characters in natural colors and is about fifteen inches tall.
• “Blessed Family Mural” has the three figures against a wall none inches tall, and is all white or a light gray.
• “Birth of Jesus” is eleven inches tall and a swirl of fabric holds the three naturally colored figures together and implies the stable or at least shelter.
• “Joyful Event” has Mary, Joseph, Jesus, a donkey and an on in one figurine, is naturally colored and fifteen inches tall. It also comes in the gres technique.
• “Humble Grace” is also made in the “gres” form, and has Mary, Joseph and Jesus in a minimal sable structure.
• Nao “The Holy Family” is nine inches tall.
• Nao “A Child is Born” in eleven inches tall.
• Finally, there is an oval piece of porcelain with “carved” figures in white and about seven inches tall.

If you decide to purchase a nativity by Lladro, I would suggest finding a local gift store or jewelry store that carries Lladro porcelains and look at as many as you can in person. Even if you decide on one of the single piece nativities, you will be spending a considerable amount of money, so it would be best to be sure of your selection before you buy. With the creches made of many separate figures, you can always begin with Mary, Joseph and Jesus and add additional figures as your budget allows. Perhaps some will come to you as gifts. Whichever one you get, you will treasure it for many years, and it will make a nice heirloom for someone else in the family.

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Hummel figurines are one of the most identifiable porcelain collectibles in the world. The children are based on the drawings of Sister Maria Innocentia, Berta Hummel (1909-1946) that was. She was educated in applied arts, and she taught drawing in the local schools. Her drawings depict the children and their activities in early Twentieth Century Bavaria. Eventually the drawings were published, and came to the attention of Franz Goeble, founder of the Goeble Porcelain Company. After working out terms with the convent, Goeble was given exclusive rights to create 3-D figurines based on the Sister’s drawings. The first was produced in 1935, and production continues today.

The charm of these boy and girl figures is the window they give us to a different way of life, where the book satchel was an important possession and children had farm chores. I had a couple of these figurines from early childhood, and I had a hard time relating to them until I got considerably older. Once I was old enough to recognize the source of the activities was another time and place, then the figurines began to mean more to me. Unfortunately, it was after a shelf crash rendered them non-mint condition, but now I wouldn’t sell them anyway.

This brings up a couple of technical matters. Make sure you buy the real thing. Other manufacturers, most notably in Japan and China, emulate these figures because they are so popular. The real figurines do not shine. The process used in creating them leaves a matte finish. Also, true Hummels will have the trademarks. A little research will let you know the true marks so you can be sure of the manufacturer. Also, buy from reputable merchants to be sure they are authentic. The merchant should have a 100% money back guarantee if you are not satisfied, whether you buy online or locally.

Leave all paper labels on the figurine, and where they were placed by the manufacturer. If you display the figurine, make sure the furniture or shelf is stable (learn from my mistake), and glass enclosed is better. If your figurine gets dirty, consult with someone knowledgeable before you clean it. If it gets broken, have someone in the porcelain repair business do the repair, after you have seen examples of their work.

There have been so many Hummels made that the best bet for the collector today is to join the official collectors club. The official web site is: http://www.mihummel.com/. If you are interested in older Hummels, learn the marks, then buy the ones you like. They may never be worth more then you pay for them, but if you like them, that doesn’t matter. There are lots of books about the figurines, and you should compare the prices listed before you decide on a fair price for a figurine you are looking at buying.

If you like depictions of children in their innocence, then Hummels are for you. Hummels also make nice birthday gifts for both boys and girls, although they will be disappointed in not being able to play with them. In the long run they may be a better choice than regular toys that get worn or broken and are thrown out.

Visit my Hummel Collectibles lens to see Hummel figures currently for sale, and books about Hummel collectibles.

More information about collecting other kinds of porcelain is available * here *.

Go to the Table of Contents to see all the topics covered so far.

Click * here * to go to the latest entry on this site.