OUR COLLECTION — AFRICA — MADAGASCAR 277. PALISANDER NATIVITY
This Nativity set from the island of Madagascar contains twelve pieces: the Holy Family, three shepherds, two animals, an angel, and three wise men. All pieces are carved from palisander wood, which is from the rosewood family. Palisander is very hard and contains a natural oil as found in rosewood. The standing figures are approximately 5 inches tall.
The Malagasy people carve in a detailed European style (rather than traditional African styles) because these wood carvers learned their carving style from French Jesuit priests. This set was purchased from a native carver selling in an open market in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar.
The Malagasy people carve in a detailed European style (rather than traditional African styles) because these wood carvers learned their carving style from French Jesuit priests. This set was purchased from a native carver selling in an open market in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar.