The artisans who make these figures work like centuries ago, emulating the methods of the firsts Spanish nativity makers. The making process becomes a ritual passed on generations of artisans up to the present day, which adds an extra value to the artistic work of the nativity artisans.
All our making process, from the use of the clay to the finished figure, has a strict control up to the final result: an exclusive piece, handmade and handpainted, inheritor of the spanish´s nativity tradition.
The nativity figures are faithful reproductions of the original models.
The artisans, in their eagerness to improbé the artistic value, use several plaster models for each figure, that are filled and emptied manually, the pieces are dried outdoors, in order to lose part of the damp, and then comes the kiln baking for several hours. After the baking, the artisans paint the figures, under the the supervisión of the workshop´s masters.
The materials, clay and the paint used for the polychromy, have passed a strict control in order to guarantee the long lasting of the piece and avoid the posible crack. These techniques mark the added value and distinction against other idustry products made with different materials, not traditional ones (resin or marble substitute).
We also guarantee a faultless product, of great beauty and artistic value.
The nativity figures have a quality label given after overcoming different requirements related to the composition and quality of the piece before it leaves the artisan´s workshop.
The Murcian Crafts Technological Center (CTARM), is placed in Totana, pioneer in the quality certification of the artisan nativity, has been the responsible of the essays to the samples sent by the Spanish Association for the Normalization and Certification (AENOR).
Among other tests, they have analized the water absorption by selected differential essays, as web as mineral composition, by X-rays. As for the quality of the pieces, they have been determined by the following parameters:
· Scratch resístanse
· Visual control
· Chromatic stability under accelerated ageing conditions
· Solubility of toxic substances
These quality controls allow us to guarantee that our figures are free of flaws, that the paint we use is not toxic, as guarantee and added security for the children, and endorses the colour resistance of our pieces, even if they are exposed to direct or indirect light.
The artisan nativity is a unic piece, due to its artistic and historical value, as web as its bond to our culture.
The markets are full of copies far removed from the virtues of art. In order to avoid confusions and guarantee its purchase, we provide the cuality label, which tries to protect the interests of the purchaser.
Nowadays the nativity artisans are herís of a cultural tradition that became stronger in Spain during the 18th century thanks to the sculptor Francisco Salzillo. However, we must go back to several centuries before in order to place the origin of this custom.
The firsts steps in Spain lead us to the 13th century, when San Francisco de Asís organized the first living nativity with written evidence. Since then, we will have to wait until the 16th and 17th centuries to find the wax nativity figures of the Gold Century writer Lope de Vega, and the clay polichromed pieces made by the prestigious sculptress Luisa Roldán de Mena, known as "La Roldana".
In the 18th century the nativity scene would no longer be considered as a distinction article for the nobility and would become popular, during the reign of Carlos III, who deepened his admiration for this art during his time as regent of Napoles, city at the head of the European blossoming of this art. During the Baroque period, was introduced the fashion to dress the figures with fine clothes.
Of tose centuries in Spain, remain nativity figures with very defined stiles: Hebrew, Salzillesco and Baroque, each one with their distinguishing marks in the use of the clay, the polichromy and the use of fabrics.
The fascination for the nativity scene has endured up to the present day, when it is admired for the purity of the artisan nativity, characterized by its quality, meticulousity and fot its capacity of showing the expressiveness and feelings in their figures. Art taken to its best in small figures. Hands that provide life of their own.
The artisan nativities are the pieces of art most purchased. The vast majority of the homes have a nativity scene, symbol of welcome, well-being, purity, love, in other words, pure art. As art does pass on.
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