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Betsy
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| Posted: April 26 2012 at 10:22am | IP Logged
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So, if you were to spend some $$$ and buy an heirloom nativity set which would you get?
Growing up my family had a Fontinini so that is what is familiar to me, but are there others that are nicer? better?
I am already overwhelmed where to buy it from, which size to buy (5 or 7inches), and what pieces to get!
Any help would be great! Thanks!!
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pumpkinmom
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| Posted: April 26 2012 at 10:49am | IP Logged
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I have some Fontinini and have been happy with them. My aunts got them for us as a wedding gifts 12 years ago. They are holding up well, so I know they can be a heirloom set. I just have the Holy Family, shepherd & sheep, angel, and donkey. I haven't added to my collection in years because I don't have anything to put them in (the barn). Every Christmas I say I am going to find something nice and I never do. I would start with the Holy Family and then maybe add a piece each year. I have no idea what else is out there.
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Cassie
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CatholicMommy
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| Posted: April 26 2012 at 6:02pm | IP Logged
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We like the Fontannini - less likely to break (though they CAN break!) and they are beautiful.
Pricey, but beautiful.
If you got the basic set, you could then use Cassie's idea and add one new one each year as the "family gift".
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Betsy
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| Posted: April 27 2012 at 8:40am | IP Logged
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Thanks Cassie and Catholic Mommy,
Do either of you know what size pieces you have?
Thanks!!
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: April 27 2012 at 8:49am | IP Logged
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Our good friends sell heirloom quality sets Made in Italy (I think Fontanini is actually made in China)at their online store. These would definitely be what I would get if I had the money. They are beautiful and more unique than the Fontanini (nothing against Fontanini, its just much more common).
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Lindsay
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Betsy
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| Posted: April 27 2012 at 9:14am | IP Logged
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Lindsay,
Have you seen the sets in person? They do look wonderful!!!! I love how they are not Made In China. And, although expensive for a 14 piece set, by time you piece together other sets you aren't that far off of that price (especially if you factor in shipping)
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CatholicMommy
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That is interesting about the Fontannini - I can't say anything about it for sure except that the latest piece we own is dated 1991 and it is definitely made in Italy. I'm not sure when they would have sent their stuff to China.
I have mostly the 5 inch pieces, though some are 7 inchers - and they can be found on Ebay if you want Fontannini without the China piece.
However, the Classic-NativityScenese ones are beautiful too!
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CatholicMommy
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| Posted: April 27 2012 at 10:46am | IP Logged
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Now, I did just find this on Fontaninistore.com:
"Each and everyone of the FontaniniŽ figures are painted by villagers in a small town in Italy called Bagni di Lucca. Some of the villagers will even take the figures home to paint them.
The paint used for the figures are made with a non-lead based paint so it's safe for all of your family members including the children to enjoy the wonderful craftsmanship of FontaniniŽ."
And similar information elsewhere.
However, I do see notes in various places that the accessories were designed in Italy and made in China; just not the people figures who are hand-painted by Italians.
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Betsy
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| Posted: April 27 2012 at 10:59am | IP Logged
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CatholicMommy wrote:
Now, I did just find this on Fontaninistore.com:
"Each and everyone of the FontaniniŽ figures are painted by villagers in a small town in Italy called Bagni di Lucca. Some of the villagers will even take the figures home to paint them.
The paint used for the figures are made with a non-lead based paint so it's safe for all of your family members including the children to enjoy the wonderful craftsmanship of FontaniniŽ."
And similar information elsewhere.
However, I do see notes in various places that the accessories were designed in Italy and made in China; just not the people figures who are hand-painted by Italians.
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Interesting! As usual, I am going to have to look into this more. I am hoping to purchase a total of five sets over a period of time for my kids and godson so I want to make the best decision!!!
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CrunchyMom
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I know that our friends have researched this and chose to sell these nativities specifically because it was so hard to find sets not made in China. I'm sure if you e-mail them, they could answer questions regarding Fontanini.
You might also try contacting Bronner's Christmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth Michigan. I believe they are the by far the biggest distributor of Fontanini in the US, and they could probably answer your questions knowledgeably as well.
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: April 27 2012 at 2:01pm | IP Logged
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I have seen the sets in person, and they are beautiful, but it was many years ago, so I don't remember much except my initial "wow" reaction.
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
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[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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CatholicMommy
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Bronner's website (at least the page I was on) did not indicate anything in China either - in the description of Fontanini figures.
Bronner's Fontaninihttp://www.bronners.com/categories/nativity-scenes/fontanini -sets
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stacykay
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One of my friends has a lovely nativity collection, that she keeps out, year-round. Here is what she has, from Willov Tree. I don't know where the figures are cast, but it does say the artist hand paints them.
In Christ,
Stacy in MI
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pumpkinmom
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| Posted: April 28 2012 at 2:33pm | IP Logged
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Betsy wrote:
Thanks Cassie and Catholic Mommy,
Do either of you know what size pieces you have?
Thanks!! |
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I never realized there were different sizes. I believe mine are the 5 inch. I can't get to them easy enough in the basement to measure them.
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Cassie
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Nativity Sets? Help!
