Beautiful! | Art of the Creche: Nativities from Around the World

A true work of reverential art | Art of the Creche: Nativities from Around the World | James L. Govan

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	• Art of the Creche: Nativities from Around the World James L. Govan Merrell, 2007 - 208 pages average customer review:based on 5 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

A top pick for all kinds of collections

One of the finest Christmas customs is the presentation of the story of Christ's birth in a creche, or nativity scene - and ART OF THE CRECHE celebrates this art, surveying over a hundred nativities from around the world and the craft involved in their production. The author is a top collector of creches and a former international aid worker: he and his late wife thus traveled the world in search of these unique nativities. With its color photos, international focus and spiritual insights, ART OF THE CRECHE is a top pick for all kinds of collections, from spiritual holdings to general-interest public libraries.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

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Beautiful!

I bought this book for my mother who collects nativity scenes from around the world. The pictures are beautiful, and we found all the insights and descriptions very interesting. This makes a wonderful gift.

A true work of reverential art

James Govan and his wife Emilia were thoughtful collectors of the art of the Christian nativity scene. This beautiful volume, dedicated to Jim's late wife, is an exquisite presentation that shares both their joy and knowledge of this very special art form. Photographs and narration combine to give the reader information about the individual sets, their creators, the background of the artisans and the countries they work in, and the art of the nativity generally. Aficionados and casual observers alike will find this book well-done and illuminating.
And it would make a lovely Christmas gift!

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A wonderful addition to a collection

This book was purchased as a gift for a friend who collects creches from around the world. She was delighted and found many new things that she now will look for in her travels. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves seeing how the nativity has been depicted in many different cultures. It is almost as good as a world tour.

ideal holiday gift book showcases Nativity scenes from around the world

From Govan's work in international aid and development, he saw creches in all parts of the world. Their styles ranged from folk art, artistic works, a few simple figures, elaborate scenes, colorless pieces of carved wood, multicolored panoramas, to realistic to modernistic. He became interested enough in creches to start a Friends of the Creche Society; and to collect creches for his own enjoyment and for exhibition and media spots.

One hundred and fifty of the varied nativity scenes are pictured in color related to the country they came from with the individuals who made them identified when known. Close-ups of features of many for appreciation of details bring the total number of photographs to more than 200. Pictured against only the white of the pages, the creches with their varied figures in their intended arrangement stand out. Especially, with no background or context, their variety and the uniqueness of each are highlighted.

Govan's short comments for each creche concentrate on how he came to acquire it, the artistic goal of its creator, the figures seen in it (e. g., an African Yao tribal king, a Navajo Indian), and its materials. Some creches Govan commissioned; some were made by artists or art groups; and some were given to him for his collection to represent a particular country or ethnic group.

This large-size, coffee-table art book makes an ideal gift for the holiday season, one which will offer recurring enjoyment.

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One of the most enduring and universal Christmas traditions is the creche, or the Nativity scene: a representation of the story of Christ's birth. This beautiful book reveals the worldwide appeal and custom of the creche and the diversity of creative expression displayed in this art form. Creche artists featured include a third-generation American firefighter devoted to preserving the Spanish Colonial santos tradition; a woman who served in the Dutch resistance during the Nazi occupation of The Netherlands; Cambodian landmine victims who helped carve a nativity with Khmer features; and a carver from New Zealand whose work is based on Maori traditions. This book contains more than 100 creches (Nativity scenes) from over 70 countries reflect indigenous cultures from around the world. It is a wonderfully designed album, completed by an insightful text. It will appeal to anyone interested in collectables, folk art, cultural traditions and especially to those seeking the perfect Christmas gift book.

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