Nativity Art Of Naples, Italy
Since the 18th century, Naples' artisan families have created their Neapolitan pastori figures in workshops on Via San Gregorio Armeno, an alley in the Centro Storico heart of Naples. Established under King Charles III, artisans made life-sized nativity figures carved of wood, destined for elaborate church displays. Over generations, they evolved to the smaller , terra cotta figures of today. The artisans fire them then hand-paint them and often clothe them in elaborate costumes. It’s an art form that blends sculpting, painting, fashion and tailoring. The Neapolitan Presepio (nativity scene) is Italy’s high art contribution to the world’s beloved Christmas traditions.
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The renowned pottery artisans of Naples have been making their Neapolitan nativity figures, called pastori, in since the 18th century. In the early decades, the artworks were life-sized nativity figures carved of wood, created for elaborate church displays. Under the support of King Charles III, they evolved to the miniature terra cotta figures of today, an art form that blends sculpting, painting, fashion and tailoring. Today the Neapolitan pastori are a widely-known Naples Christmas tradition, renowned for their meticulous attention for detail. Figures are fired in terra-cotta, then hand-painted and often clothed in elaborate costumes. You will find the usual nativity figures here, the holy family, the three Magi, angels, donkeys and oxen. But in Naples, they love to arrange these figures in elaborate settings called Presepio– medieval town squares, villages with thatched cottages and spinning water wheels.
READ MORE: The Neapolitan Nativity Scene.
The terra cotta and glass-domed figures we offer here are made completely by hand, in the workshop of Gambardella Pastori, located on Via. S. Gregorio Armeno in Napoli. This is a third-generation family workshop.
Showing all 11 results
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Nativity Set, Neapolitan Pastori
Size: 4.75 inches tall
This Nativity Set includes nine pieces. They are made of terra cotta and hand painted. Made by Gambardella Pastori in Naples, Italy.
SKU: PO-5_02$159.00 -
Red Neapolitan Nativity Angel
Size: 9 inches tall
The Red Neapolitan Nativity Angel measures 9 inches tall, hangs from a hook on the wall or a fishline from the ceiling. It is made of terra-cotta. The angel is dressed in a silk robe of bright red and has scarves of light blue and white. This is handmade by Angelo Piccolo in the workshop of Gambardella Pastorin, Naples, Italy.
SKU: PO-5_03$115.00 -
Neapolitan Nativity Scene under glass dome, 10 cm. tall
Nativity scene under glass dome made in Naples, Italy by Gambardella Pastori
Domed nativity scene features hand-painted, terra cotta figures, measures 10 cm tall, 4 inches.
SKU: PO-5_06$24.00 -
Neapolitan Pazzariello, town crier, terra-cotta presepio figurine
Traditional Naples town crier figurine, hand-painted pottery figure
One of a kind Pazzariello, handcrafted by Gambardella Pastori, measures 10 inches tall, including wooden base.
SKU: PO-5_11$95.00 -
White Neapolitan Angel
Size: 12 inches tall
The White Neapolitan Angel is dressed in white robing. The terra-cotta angel hangs from a hook on the wall or a fishline from the ceiling. Handcrafted in Naples, Italy by the Di Virgilio workshop. Rear wing looks like the artist fixed a fissure. Therefore we are offering this angel at a lower price.
SKU: PO-5_19$125.00 -
Navy Neapolitan Angel
Size: 10.5 inches tall
The Navy Neapolitan Angel is dressed in a navy robe with yellow and peach scarves. It can hang from a hook on the wall or from a fishline. The handcrafted terra-cotta Angel is made by the Di Virgilio Workshop.
SKU: PO-5_20$145.00 -
Neapolitan Market Lady, Terracotta
Market lady fruit seller, a terra cotta figurine, handcrafted in Naples, Italy by Di Virgilio workshop.
Neapolitan Market Lady is made of terra cotta. This one-of-a-kind figurine measures 10-inches tall by 4-inches wide. Clothing is slightly soiled to give it the authentic look of an 18th century figurine. Presepio Figurine “Venditrice Di Aglio” Handcrafted in Naples by Di Virgilio Workshop.
SKU: PO-5_23$175.00 -
Neapolitan Nativity Angel Figurine, terra cotta, (10-inch, 25 cm.), white/pink/blue #2
Hanging angel, swathed in white, blue and pink robing, hand-painted with glass eyes. Made in Naples, Italy by Gambardella Pastori.
Angel figurine, made of terra cotta, measures 10 inches tall, measured from head to toes. Hangs from a hook on a wall.
SKU: PO-5_32$125.00 -
Neapolitan Terracotta Market Vendor, Nativity Figurine
Market worker, Neapolitan nativity figurine, purposely made to look old, with hand-crafted, soiled clothing. Made in Naples, Italy by Gambardella Pastori workshop.
One-of-a-kind figurine measures 9 inches (23 cm.) tall, including wooden base. Hand-painted, terracotta figurine has glass eyes.
SKU: PO-5_25$145.00 -
Neapolitan Market Man with Garlic, terra-cotta presepio figurine
One of a kind Pazzariello, handcrafted by Gambardella Pastori, measures 14 1/2-inches tall, including wooden base.
SKU: PO-5_34$110.00 -
Blue Neapolitan Nativity Angel
Size: 8.5 inches tall
The Blue Neapolitan Nativity Angel is made of terra cotta. It is dressed in a blue robe and scarves of white and orange. Hangs from a hook on a wall or from the ceiling. This is handmade by Angelo Piccolo in the workshop of Gambardella Pastori, Naples, Italy.
SKU: PO-5_35$98.00
Nativity Art Of Naples, Italy
Since the 18th century, Naples' artisan families have created their Neapolitan pastori figures in workshops on Via San Gregorio Armeno, an alley in the Centro Storico heart of Naples. Established under King Charles III, artisans made life-sized nativity figures carved of wood, destined for elaborate church displays. Over generations, they evolved to the smaller , terra cotta figures of today. The artisans fire them then hand-paint them and often clothe them in elaborate costumes. It’s an art form that blends sculpting, painting, fashion and tailoring. The Neapolitan Presepio (nativity scene) is Italy’s high art contribution to the world’s beloved Christmas traditions.
Your Title Goes Here
Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.
Read More
The renowned pottery artisans of Naples have been making their Neapolitan nativity figures, called pastori, in since the 18th century. In the early decades, the artworks were life-sized nativity figures carved of wood, created for elaborate church displays. Under the support of King Charles III, they evolved to the miniature terra cotta figures of today, an art form that blends sculpting, painting, fashion and tailoring. Today the Neapolitan pastori are a widely-known Naples Christmas tradition, renowned for their meticulous attention for detail. Figures are fired in terra-cotta, then hand-painted and often clothed in elaborate costumes. You will find the usual nativity figures here, the holy family, the three Magi, angels, donkeys and oxen. But in Naples, they love to arrange these figures in elaborate settings called Presepio– medieval town squares, villages with thatched cottages and spinning water wheels.
READ MORE: The Neapolitan Nativity Scene.
The terra cotta and glass-domed figures we offer here are made completely by hand, in the workshop of Gambardella Pastori, located on Via. S. Gregorio Armeno in Napoli. This is a third-generation family workshop.
Showing all 11 results
-
Nativity Set, Neapolitan Pastori
Size: 4.75 inches tall
This Nativity Set includes nine pieces. They are made of terra cotta and hand painted. Made by Gambardella Pastori in Naples, Italy.
SKU: PO-5_02$159.00 -
Red Neapolitan Nativity Angel
Size: 9 inches tall
The Red Neapolitan Nativity Angel measures 9 inches tall, hangs from a hook on the wall or a fishline from the ceiling. It is made of terra-cotta. The angel is dressed in a silk robe of bright red and has scarves of light blue and white. This is handmade by Angelo Piccolo in the workshop of Gambardella Pastorin, Naples, Italy.
SKU: PO-5_03$115.00 -
Neapolitan Nativity Scene under glass dome, 10 cm. tall
Nativity scene under glass dome made in Naples, Italy by Gambardella Pastori
Domed nativity scene features hand-painted, terra cotta figures, measures 10 cm tall, 4 inches.
SKU: PO-5_06$24.00 -
Neapolitan Pazzariello, town crier, terra-cotta presepio figurine
Traditional Naples town crier figurine, hand-painted pottery figure
One of a kind Pazzariello, handcrafted by Gambardella Pastori, measures 10 inches tall, including wooden base.
SKU: PO-5_11$95.00 -
White Neapolitan Angel
Size: 12 inches tall
The White Neapolitan Angel is dressed in white robing. The terra-cotta angel hangs from a hook on the wall or a fishline from the ceiling. Handcrafted in Naples, Italy by the Di Virgilio workshop. Rear wing looks like the artist fixed a fissure. Therefore we are offering this angel at a lower price.
SKU: PO-5_19$125.00 -
Navy Neapolitan Angel
Size: 10.5 inches tall
The Navy Neapolitan Angel is dressed in a navy robe with yellow and peach scarves. It can hang from a hook on the wall or from a fishline. The handcrafted terra-cotta Angel is made by the Di Virgilio Workshop.
SKU: PO-5_20$145.00 -
Neapolitan Market Lady, Terracotta
Market lady fruit seller, a terra cotta figurine, handcrafted in Naples, Italy by Di Virgilio workshop.
Neapolitan Market Lady is made of terra cotta. This one-of-a-kind figurine measures 10-inches tall by 4-inches wide. Clothing is slightly soiled to give it the authentic look of an 18th century figurine. Presepio Figurine “Venditrice Di Aglio” Handcrafted in Naples by Di Virgilio Workshop.
SKU: PO-5_23$175.00 -
Neapolitan Nativity Angel Figurine, terra cotta, (10-inch, 25 cm.), white/pink/blue #2
Hanging angel, swathed in white, blue and pink robing, hand-painted with glass eyes. Made in Naples, Italy by Gambardella Pastori.
Angel figurine, made of terra cotta, measures 10 inches tall, measured from head to toes. Hangs from a hook on a wall.
SKU: PO-5_32$125.00 -
Neapolitan Terracotta Market Vendor, Nativity Figurine
Market worker, Neapolitan nativity figurine, purposely made to look old, with hand-crafted, soiled clothing. Made in Naples, Italy by Gambardella Pastori workshop.
One-of-a-kind figurine measures 9 inches (23 cm.) tall, including wooden base. Hand-painted, terracotta figurine has glass eyes.
SKU: PO-5_25$145.00 -
Neapolitan Market Man with Garlic, terra-cotta presepio figurine
One of a kind Pazzariello, handcrafted by Gambardella Pastori, measures 14 1/2-inches tall, including wooden base.
SKU: PO-5_34$110.00 -
Blue Neapolitan Nativity Angel
Size: 8.5 inches tall
The Blue Neapolitan Nativity Angel is made of terra cotta. It is dressed in a blue robe and scarves of white and orange. Hangs from a hook on a wall or from the ceiling. This is handmade by Angelo Piccolo in the workshop of Gambardella Pastori, Naples, Italy.
SKU: PO-5_35$98.00