OUR COLLECTION — AFRICA — KENYA 238. NEEM WOOD NATIVITY
This Nativity is hand-carved from neem wood, an ecologically sound wood that is a species of the mahogany family and has some of the characteristics of a cabinetry wood. The wood is used to make wardrobes, bookcases, fence posts and packing cases because of its insect-repellent quality. The 7-piece set includes the Holy Family, three wise men, and a shepherd with his staff. The figures are approximately 6 inches tall.
The six stone animals added to this Nativity are hand-carved in Kisii soapstone and then hand-painted in whimsical colors and designs. Kisii stone comes from western Kenya. The animals are (from left) a rhinoceros, a hippo, a zebra, a lion, an elephant, and a giraffe.
The Nativity was carved by the Bombolulu Workshop for the Handicapped, located in Mombasa—a hot, humid city on the Indian Ocean. It started in 1969 as a rehabilitation project sponsored by the Association for the Physically Disabled of Kenya. Profits from the sales of its first project, copper jewelry, were used to purchase Bombolulu Gardens, a 12-acre farm on the outskirts of Mombasa. In addition to their income from handcraft production, the 150 handicapped men and women artisans and their families receive free housing and medical care. Priority is given to the most severely disabled and to those from the poorest families.
The six stone animals added to this Nativity are hand-carved in Kisii soapstone and then hand-painted in whimsical colors and designs. Kisii stone comes from western Kenya. The animals are (from left) a rhinoceros, a hippo, a zebra, a lion, an elephant, and a giraffe.
The Nativity was carved by the Bombolulu Workshop for the Handicapped, located in Mombasa—a hot, humid city on the Indian Ocean. It started in 1969 as a rehabilitation project sponsored by the Association for the Physically Disabled of Kenya. Profits from the sales of its first project, copper jewelry, were used to purchase Bombolulu Gardens, a 12-acre farm on the outskirts of Mombasa. In addition to their income from handcraft production, the 150 handicapped men and women artisans and their families receive free housing and medical care. Priority is given to the most severely disabled and to those from the poorest families.