Description
Innkeeper with lantern sized for a 4.75 inch nativity display. Made by hand in Germany from a carefully composed combination of kaolin, chalk, paper fibers, organic paste and clay. The Innkeepher is scaled for a 12 cm Marolin nativity display.
The molds for this nativity figure were created in 1934 and the Innkeeper has been handmade in the Marolin studios from these molds ever since.
See more of the Marolin Nativity collection, or visit our Unique Nativity collection for more amazing nativity sets from Around the World.
Today, as over a hundred years ago, the Marolin figurines are made completely by hand and the special mixture of fine papier-mâché created by Richard Mar is still used. This carefully composed combination of kaolin, chalk, paper fibers, organic paste and clay can be poured into some molds in a thin liquid form or pressed into other molds in a more solid form. Figurines of about 4.75 inches or larger are made as hollow figures by pouring the mixture into molds. Smaller figurines and the extremities for the larger ones are made by pressing the mixture into corresponding molds. Because the extremities are quite fragile, a copper wire reinforcement is inserted into them at the time of production. After all of the parts of each figurine have been dried, trimmed and cleaned, they are very carefully fitted together. Larger areas of the figurines such as dresses and trousers are painted with airbrush pistols. Afterwards individual painters, all master craftsmen, give the figurines their unique character and vitality. Patina is delicately rubbed onto the surface to create even more plasticity and depth. And then at long last wonderful gold accents are added to finish off the exquisite figurines.
