Grulich crib stable
Material: Wood, hand painted
Size: 21,5 cm tall, 25,5 cm wide, 9,5 cm deep
Age: around 1880 / 1900
Origin: Czech, Grulich
Condition:
Nice condition with normal signs of age.
Description:
Exceptional antique nativity stable in an Oriental architectural style, dating from around 1880/1900. The elaborately crafted wooden structure features an impressive castle-like façade with two lateral towers, battlements, round-arched openings and a raised central section. Its sculptural construction and wealth of detail give the stable a particularly decorative and imposing appearance. The front is polychrome-painted by hand. Painted masonry, contrasting window surrounds, cornices and architectural ornaments emphasize its Oriental character. Selected areas are decorated with fine glitter, lending the stable a subtle festive shimmer. The original paintwork shows age-related rubbing and chipping. These authentic signs of use and the naturally developed patina contribute greatly to the special historical charm of the piece. The stable is particularly suitable for nativity figures measuring approximately 5 to 7 cm.
The underside displays old woodworm holes, which are no longer active. Overall, the stable is in a beautiful, age-appropriate used condition, showing the usual traces of time. As the base has become slightly warped over the years, the stable wobbles a little when positioned. If desired, this can easily be corrected by attaching a small strip of felt underneath. An expressive and highly decorative original dating from around 1880/1900—ideal for collectors of historic Christmas nativity scenes, as an addition to a high-quality collection of figures or as an atmospheric display piece.
Grulich Crib figurines
Grulich nowadays called Králiky in the Czech Republic is located at the foot of the Eagle Mountains in Northern Bohemia. Emperor Joseph II. forbade any christmas cribs in churches. After that at the end of the eighteenth century around the grulich area began a massive production of nativity figures for home use. There are many variants of the Grulicher figures, some are roughly, others very fine carved. The wood carvers in the Adlergebirge were mostly seasonal workers. Women and children painted the figures. The Grulicher crib production goes down during the upcoming industrialization at the end of the 19th century.
