OUR COLLECTION — ASIA — MONGOLIA 59. BATMUNKH'S NATIVITY
This is a rare hand-carved Nativity set from Mongolia. Nativity scenes from Mongolia are rare because there are less than 6,000 Christians in that country.
We commissioned this set from our Mongolian friend Batmunkh who is a professional carver in Ulaanbaatar. His name means strong (bat) eternal (munkh). Mongolians do not use last names. Batmunkh is a Christian in Mongolia. He signed his name in English letters on the bottom of Jesus’ manger (Mongolians use the Russian Cyrillic alphabet for their own language). He also dated the set “III 2005” for March 2005.
The wood is a light soft wood like pine that they call black wood in Mongolia. The stain is reddish brown. Most standing figures are between 4.5 and 5 inches tall. The stable is 7 inches tall (not including star). There are fifteen pieces total, counting the stable and star. Joseph stands with open hands next to a kneeling Mary with a single braid of hair. Baby Jesus is wrapped up tight like all Mongolian babies. The shepherd is riding a horse; his boots have upturned toes to keep the dust off the topside of his boots. The sweetest little Mongolian boy is hugging a lamb and watching over two sheep. The set also includes a wonderful yak, two standing wise men, one wise man riding a camel, a horse, and an angel.
We commissioned this set from our Mongolian friend Batmunkh who is a professional carver in Ulaanbaatar. His name means strong (bat) eternal (munkh). Mongolians do not use last names. Batmunkh is a Christian in Mongolia. He signed his name in English letters on the bottom of Jesus’ manger (Mongolians use the Russian Cyrillic alphabet for their own language). He also dated the set “III 2005” for March 2005.
The wood is a light soft wood like pine that they call black wood in Mongolia. The stain is reddish brown. Most standing figures are between 4.5 and 5 inches tall. The stable is 7 inches tall (not including star). There are fifteen pieces total, counting the stable and star. Joseph stands with open hands next to a kneeling Mary with a single braid of hair. Baby Jesus is wrapped up tight like all Mongolian babies. The shepherd is riding a horse; his boots have upturned toes to keep the dust off the topside of his boots. The sweetest little Mongolian boy is hugging a lamb and watching over two sheep. The set also includes a wonderful yak, two standing wise men, one wise man riding a camel, a horse, and an angel.