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The Nativity Scene:

The angel said unto her, Fear not Mary: thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.

And Mary brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger.

The angel of the Lord came upon them, and said unto them, Fear not: for unto you is born this day a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Ye shall find the babe wrapped in in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

They followed the star, and they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him.

“And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.” ( Lc 2, 6-7)

The representation of the Birth of Jesus, as it has been transmitted to us by The Gospel, began in early ages. The first Christmas drawing was made in the 4^th Century B.C. and represents a lying Jesus Child with his mother Mary and the praying Three Kings.

In the year 1223 AD a very accurate nativity scene was represented by Saint Francis. He celebrated the Christmas Mass in front of a wooden manger with an ox and a donkey close to it. This way the event Birth of Jesus could be brought closer to the people on whom it exercised an incredible charm.

Where does this representation take all its charm? Jesus was born as son of a poor family. Poverty and the natural birth of Gods son created the feeling in the people, as if he was one of them. They could identify with him. Also, the contrast between rich and poor, with kings and shepherds, both worshipping the little child, was shown.

The Jesuits and Franciscans helped to spread the concept far out in the world. Frescos, altars, paintings and carvings with the Nativity Scene as subject became innumerous.

Representations of the Nativity Scene have a long tradition in South Tyrol and are to be found on ancient manuscripts or seals. The Chapel at the Castle Schloss Tyrol, the one at Hocheppan Castle as well as the Via Crucis in Brixen all have wonderful Christmas representations of the Early Gothic Period. An important fresco dating from the later gothic period is to be seen at the St. Jakob Church in Val Gardena. All those representations as well as the many altars in South Tyrol are the middle step to the actual Nativity Scenes.

During the Age of Enlightenment nativity scenes were banned from churches and monasteries. Paradoxically, this favoured the spreading of the nativity scenes in peoples houses. People also began to create their own Nativity Scenes and especially in Val Gardena, during the cold winter months, farmers began to dedicate themselves to create and carve their own Nativity Scenes. While these carving looked rather primitive at first, they soon became quite detailed and successful with a high both popular and artistic value.

Woodcarvers of Val Gardena soon became Masters in the skill of carving and this Sacred Art had a great rising in popularity. Numerous ateliers were opend and the valley hold a kind of monopoly in the creation of wood-carved cribs, exported all around the world.

The oldest maintained nativity scene of Val Gardena seems to be a baroque carved “Praying of the Three Kings representation” from the Vinatzer Atelier. This Piece of Art was created during the period of Maria Theresa (18^th Century), a golden period for art and is today preserved at the Museum of Ortisei.

Today, several producers of woodcarvings united in the “Woodcarving Manufacturer Association – Gardena Art” to continue this long-lasting tradition, where the “Gardena Art Seal” certifies for the quality and origin of our woodcarvings.

For ages the crib has taken in the central role in the woodcarving tradition. A crib from Val Gardena is a valuebale Piece of Art in a household. It becomes the central point for a family at Christmas time. Children use to gather around it with their eyes shining in the candle light.

A Gardena Art Nativity, symbol of unity and peace.

Enjoy 400 years of woodcarving tradition:

Val Gardena is magic valley full of history and traditions, with dense evergreen forests, open fields and of course, the most astonishing and beautiful mountains of the world. This is the landscape that embraces the three little towns of the valley emphasising the beauty of their particular architecture. Starting from Ortisei, passing through S. Christina and ending up in Selva is just the beginning of a journey to discover this unique valley.

Val Gardena has been the home of skilled sculptors since 400 years. The art of woodcarving, handed down from generation to generation, represents one of the main characteristics of the alpine valley.

This tradition goes back to the time around 1600, when the peasants living in the valley started to manufacture first toys and later on especially religious items and other woodcarvings. These works were then sold at the annual spring fairs. Today this tradition is kept up by talented woodcarvers who manufacture objects of art which both remind us of ancient times, and adapt perfectly to modern taste.

Skilled artists educated in the art school of Ortisei and Selva carve the basic models for the serial production. Their excellent masterpieces are a product of their individual creativity, always original and different. These models are then cast in bronze for being reproduced in many standard sizes.

The best wood to carve is the wood found in the alpine forests. Here is how it works: the stem of the trees is cut in large boards. After being kiln-dryed, they are cut into little cubes, according to the size of the sculptures that are meant to be carved.

Out of these little wooden cubes, expert artisans carve the figurines accurately by means of a pantograph. Once the work is completed, he revises once more every single figurine eliminating any imperfections-

The woodcarver carves by hand all details to complete the art work.

The last step of the process is the decoration. The painting of the figurines is entirely made by hand, patience and love for detail are features of this last step. The colors used vary from figure to figure so that we can say that every sculpture is a single masterpiece on its own, whom the artist gives his individual touch.

The Val Gardena woodcarvings offer something for everyone. The range covers: Religious sculptures, Nativity Scenes, Chess pieces, animals, sport persons, clowns, professions and also wood sculptures from history of art.

The basic motif of the Val Gardena woodcarvings is the Nativity scene, which is now manufactured in a variety of styles ranging from the classical to the more modern. A Nativity-set handcrafted in Val Gardena is a cherished family-heirloom and a precious object of art for collectors.

This investment will keep its Value throughout the years as we guarentee the collection will expand and you can complete it.

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