"The Nativity" by Dot Bunn, OPA
“The Nativity” by Dot Bunn is a study in oils of the birth of Christ as captured in the sculptures of Original Heide. Check out the story behind the painting told by the artist through images in the…
Journal
Commission stories, studio visits, and the history behind the pieces.
Creating Your Own Custom Heirloom Nativity
Creating a custom nativity scene as a family heirloom is a wonderful idea and the basis for enduring family traditions! Here are some specific ideas that we incorporate here at Navidad Nativities…
Custom Commission: Private Collector, Pennsylvania
In the grand tradition of an Italian presepi, this original Navidad nativity scene features a crumbling Roman ruin in two sections with a small glowing grotto below. The overall height is almost 40″…
Custom Commission: Trinity Church Wall Street
This stunning and very large nativity features the Judean Inn with the adjoining partially thatched stable and is flanked by towering movable fin walls. Fully encased in a large acrylic cover and…
Custom Figures
Custom Commission: Trinity Church Wall Street"The Nativity" by Dot Bunn, OPA
Custom Private Bucks County Commission
This Custom Nativity was commissioned to celebrate the legacy of the Italian family’s matriarch and is the centerpiece of their Christmas Celebration. The crumbling Roman architecture, a signature of…
Custom Private Wedding Commission
As with many family traditions, celebrating the Nativity is something that is passed down from the older generations. This Nativity was commissioned as a wedding present for a very special couple who…
Fontanini's Vintage 12" Nativity
Needles in the Hay Stacks… Just about 10 years ago, I came across a vintage Holy Family made of paper mache in a 12” series (or 30cm) by Fontanini. The Fontanini Company was founded in 1908 by…
Grand Cartapesta Presepe premiers as centerpiece of World Nativities Exhibition at Glencairn Museum in Bryn Athyn.
Christmas 2023 marked the grand reopening of the Glencairn Museum in Bryn Athyn, PA after 18 months of major infrastructure enhancements. We have been delighted to be a part of the Glencairn extended…
Jesus Chasing the Money Changers from the Temple
In addition to heirloom custom nativity settings, Navidad Nativities has created other custom biblical dioramas for clients from garden tombs to the Crucifixion. This piece features Jesus Chasing…
Navidad Partners Meet with Iconic Studios in the Italian Alps at Ortisei
Two weeks ago, Michael Stumpf, Founder of Navidad Nativities, and A.J. DiAntonio, Partner, were once again in Val Gardena, Italy to meet with our premier studios that produce the stunning nativity…
Navidad featured at "Celebration of 800 Years Of The Creche" at Knights of Columbus Museum in New Haven.
November 10, 2023 – March 24, 2024 The St. Francis Nativity by Navidad Nativities is a unique and intimate grotto design, typical of the hillsides in Umbria, where St. Francis lived and preached.…
Original Heide
From the centuries-old tradition of the Nativity scenes of Val Gardena in the Italian Alp… each piece of Original Heide Nativity Art is signed by hand as a guarantee of authenticity and unique…
Sanctuario di Greccio
It was December in the year 1223. Francis, then a Friar and Deacon, had sought permission from Pope Honorius III to stage a living Nativity in celebration of Christmas Mass. He chose the hillside…
The All Saints Nativity
This Custom Nativity was commissioned in 2018 by Trinity Church Wall Street in New York City for their All Saints Chapel. The scene is of a Judean Inn and Stable with soaring city walls flanking the…
The Custom Judean Inn Setting for Belenes Puig Nativity
This three piece custom setting was designed for our client in California who already had an exquisite collection of terracotta figures from Belenes Puig, Barcelona, Spain. The entire setting carved…
The First Nativity by St. Francis
The first nativity scene was created by St. Francis of Assisi in 1223 in Greccio, Italy near the village of Assisi. St. Francis’ goal was to create a living representation of the birth of Jesus… to…
The Glencairn Nativity
The Glencairn Nativity was created to celebrate the 2015 World Nativities Exposition at the Glencairn Museum in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania. The scene represents the architecture of the Bryn Athyn…
The Jerusalem Manger
Navidad Nativities is honored to be a featured contributor for the 7th year in the World Nativities Exposition at the Glencairn Museum in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania. This year’s piece is from A.J.’s…
The Navidad Wall Nativity
Inspired by a museum piece we discovered in Italy, this is a first for Navidad. A stunning nativity hung on a wall in your home is a special blessing in that it is far away from tiny hands and pets…
The Nazareth House
This custom presentation was a commission from a client, who often uses our work for teaching and sharing insights. The Nazareth House comes from the first century A.D. and is presented as a cutaway…
The Nogler Nativity
Deep in the Dolomite Mountains there is a charming village known as Santa Christina. On a business trip several years ago to meet with our key studios that produce exquisite nativity figures, we…
The Original Grotto Nativity
This completely carved wood design has been reproduced several times to accommodate private collectors’ figures of varying sizes. It features three inviting carved arches into a stable grotto, with a…
The Porcelain Portrayal
This very small custom designed stable houses a collection of hand painted porcelain nativity figures. The table and rocks are all hand carved wood. This is a truly unique design for a small nativity…
The Renaissance Frame Creche
While on a visit to the Italian region of Val Gardena, we visited the studio of Lepi Original Woodcarvings. Known for exquisite detail, their collections are found throughout the world. They also…
The Renaissance Nativity
In early 2015, Navidad Nativities travelled to Italy to seek out new Nativity makers around the country in hopes to bring back new artists to be introduced to the US market. After a few exhausting…
The Sanctuary Grove Nativity
A Nativity makes a perfect wedding gift for loved ones. It signifies the beginning of Christianity and can also honor the start of a new life together, a gift that becomes a tradition as the family…
The Shepherd’s Stable
Nestled into a rock grotto background, this post and beam stable is the dynamic setting for the birth of Christ. The entire setting completely hand carved in wood includes the grotto setting, a small…
The Spire Nativity
This very distinctive nativity incorporates a pre-made, highly detailed wooden spire model. Included in the setting are contemporary solid wood, carved figures from Original Ulrich/ULPE Wood art in…
The St. Mary's Creche - December 24, 1882
Christmas is a time to share our blessings. For us at Navidad Nativities, our blessing this year came in the form of a large scale commemorative nativity for the Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage…
The Tyrolean Tabia Nativity
Every so often, we have the opportunity to work on a Nativity whose design comes from artists from an earlier time. Usually they are repair jobs from many years of family celebrations, but other…
The Val Gardena Nativity
A custom designed nativity for one of the largest collectors in the U.S., this carved wood presentation features a unique angled design with two walls embracing the Holy Family. Carved, unpainted…