OUR COLLECTION — AFRICA — ETHIOPIA 286. GLAZED CLAY NATIVITY
This 9-piece set was crafted by Hope Ceramics, a society of local artisans in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, who have hands-on training gained from 10 years in the production of artistic ceramics. They have trained with artisans from Europe and the USA. They now train other local artisans in ceramics. Their items focus on Ethiopian artistic traditions and context, using local raw materials and many of the same techniques that Ethiopian potters have always used.
The set includes Joseph, Mary, Jesus, three wise men, a shepherd, and two animals. The design around baby Jesus’s bed is unique on each set made by the artisans (no two designs are the same). The tallest wise man measures 3.5 inches tall.
Ethiopia has a long Christian tradition. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church (also known as the Coptics) is considered the oldest Eastern Orthodox Christian church in the world and is also the largest with 36 million members worldwide.
The set includes Joseph, Mary, Jesus, three wise men, a shepherd, and two animals. The design around baby Jesus’s bed is unique on each set made by the artisans (no two designs are the same). The tallest wise man measures 3.5 inches tall.
Ethiopia has a long Christian tradition. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church (also known as the Coptics) is considered the oldest Eastern Orthodox Christian church in the world and is also the largest with 36 million members worldwide.
