OUR COLLECTION — AFRICA — MADAGASCAR 278. ROSEWOOD NATIVITY WITH PALM TREE
This Nativity scene from the island of Madagascar contains Joseph, Mary, baby Jesus and two lambs, with a Traveler’s Palm (native to Madagascar) behind them. The pieces have pegs that fit into a wood platform. All pieces are carved from rosewood, which is becoming a rare wood in Madagascar so the government has imposed quotas on the quantity that is available to carvers. Rosewood is very hard and contains a natural oil. The tree measures 8.5 inches high and the platform is 7 inches long by 4 inches wide.
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.