Hand carved from alstonia, a tropical evergreen tree native to Indonesia, this contemporary wooden nativity features eight figures, simply ornamented and painted in muted tones. Due to its handmade nature, nativity may appear antiqued.
Dimensions:
Tallest figure: 7"h; 8 pcs.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Indonesian Folk Art Nativity
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What is included in the Indonesian Folk Art Nativity?
The set is eight hand-carved figures, simply ornamented and hand painted in muted tones. It's $85, and the tallest figure stands about 7 inches high, so it reads as a table or mantel centerpiece rather than a shelf miniature.
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What is alstonia wood?
Alstonia is a tropical evergreen native to Indonesia, known locally as pulai. Its timber has almost no visible figure, which is exactly what a painted piece needs: nothing in the grain competes with the color, and the surface stays smooth under a brush. It is also soft enough to shape into rounded, simplified forms without splintering.
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What does folk art mean for this nativity?
It describes the style. The figures are carved in simple, rounded forms with minimal ornamentation and painted in soft, muted colors rather than rendered realistically, so the set reads as contemporary in both shape and palette. Some sets arrive looking gently aged or antiqued, which is part of the intended finish rather than wear.
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How does this set compare with SERRV's whitewashed nativity?
Both are carved in Indonesia by the same artisan partner, but they read very differently. This one is painted, featuring warm muted colors, with taller figures and a freestanding arrangement that works as a centerpiece. The Whitewashed Albizia Nativity is smaller and paler, finished in a white wash rather than full color, and framed by a standing arch. Choose this set for color and character, the other for a quieter, more sculptural look.
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Who carves it, and is it fair trade?
It is carved and painted by artisans at Pekerti Nusantara in Indonesia on fair trade terms. Each figure is shaped and finished by one person rather than along a line, which is why expression and proportion differ from set to set and no two arrangements look quite alike.
