Feves SIX NATIVITY SETS 12 TRADITIONAL Epiphany figures ceramic + gift bag/star

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This is a one off listing for SIX TWELVE PIECE vintage FRENCH CERAMIC FEVE EPIPHANY/NATIVITY SETS Each is very similar with a nice selection of characters including the Holy Family, Angel and even the MOORISH PRINCE. In some cases one of the two Shepherds is in modern dress. These all come from the same era and area: dating from roughly the 1960's & 1970's so can be classed as vintage in ceramic terms. They are pretty well matched - I do not mismatch - I pride myself in saying that I select the feves myself and make up the sets accordingly! A gold gift bag -and a golden star too - for each set.I will also include two of the Village Folk or Townspeople with each set although they are not photographed and are not priced as highly as the larger sets. I HAVE BEEN SELLING MY 'LITTLE PEOPLE' SINCE 1997 in which time I have sent them all over the world and am proud to say that this TRADITION has been adopted by hundreds of my passionate buyers! These are tiny ceramic FRENCH FEVES are collectable in their own right, but made up into this wonderfully small CRECHE they are quite lovely. Traditionally displayed at EPIPHANY they are splendid for Christmas - right the way through the New Year celebrations and to the TWELTH NIGHT when the Three Wise Men or Kings, as they are sometimes refered to, finally found the promised Messiah. Each set is uniquely different so please look carefully at the photograph as, due to the scale of sales through to January, I cannot swap figures or go into individual names for the Provencal type Santons * which I discribe as Village Folk or Towns People. Each one had a specific role in the community. I am adding sweet gold coloured gift bags in which you can keep 'the little people' - year after year. Traditionally it was impossible to purchase these at any other time of year * as they were manufactured and still are, under strict licence. This will make a beautiful present or treat yourself this coming 2012 Christmas and Epiphany. i.e. THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS. I will include a brief history for you to keep and a surprise too. Just over an inch (1.25" / 32mm) in height. *Applies only to Epiphany figures. HISTORY OF THE FEVE : THESE SMALL FRENCH FIGURES, WERE TRADITIONALLY BAKED INSIDE LE GALETTE DES ROIS (THE KINGS CAKE) TO CELEBRATE EPIPHANY ON 6TH JANUARY EACH YEAR. THIS IS A FLAT CAKE, A BIT LIKE A FRANGIPANI, WHICH HAS A GOLD CROWN AROUND THE OUTSIDE. SOLD ONLY FOR A SHORT PERIOD EACH YEAR THEY WERE ONLY AVAILABLE FROM THE BOULANGER. 'FEVES' WERE HANDED DOWN TO THE NEXT GENERATION. THE STYLE VARIED SLIGHTLY THROUGHOUT THE VARIOUS REGIONS OF FRANCE, SOME BEING VERY CRUDE IN TERACOTTA /CERAMIC WHILST OTHERS WERE QUITE FINE AND MADE OF PORCELAIN OR PLASTIC. THE CONCEPT CONTINUES, ALTHOUGH THE FIGURES NOW OFTEN PORTRAY COUNTRIES, TRADES AND FAIRYTALE/FILM FIGURES WHICH HAS LITTLE TO DO WITH THE ORIGINS. THE ORIGINS WERE OBVIOUSLY OF A RELIGIOUS NATURE - CONNECTING BELIEFS BOTH CHRISTIAN AND PAGAN - ALL ABOUT FERTILITY AND FAITH HENCE THE BEAN - THE FAVA BEAN WAS SUCH AND IT IS THIS THAT THE NAME FEVE COMES FROM. LATER THE SCENE OF THE ADORATION INCLUDED THE FIGURES PORTRAYED IN THE TRADITION KNOWN AS PROVENCAL SANTONS. LATER STILL THE FINDER SERVED WINE AND THE CAKE TO THE FAMILY AND BECAME 'KING (OR QUEEN) FOR THE DAY', WEARING THE CROWN OF COURSE.HE/SHE WAS ABLE TO CHOOSE HIS QUEEN/KING WITH WHOM TO LEAD THE TRADITIONAL DANCE. THE SPECIFIC TRADITIONS WERE FAIRLY LOCALISED IN CONTENT, AS WERE THE STYLE AND SIZE OF THE FEVES THEMSELVES. Information originally provided by a french collector although origins appear to vary! THIS IS WHY I USE CATEGORIES NEW....... MODERN....... VINTAGE........and very rarely ANTIQUE. I VERY RARELY MIX SETS OR AGES BUT IF I DO MIX THEM UP WHILST SELLING IN BULK I WILL INDICATE THAT THIS IS THE CASE. ========================================================... read more

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