DepartmentEurope

Woman Carrying A Cradle

NameFigure

DateLate 1970s - early 1980s

(not assigned)AUps, Cote d'Azur, France, Europe

MediumCeramic, wood, cotton, synthetic fiber, paint

DimensionsWoman: 13 × 5 7/8 × 5 5/16 in. (33 × 15 × 13.5 cm)
Cradle: 2 5/16 × 5 1/16 × 2 1/2 in. (5.8 × 12.8 × 6.4 cm)
Blanket bundle: 1 3/16 × 3 11/16 × 2 3/16 in. (3 × 9.4 × 5.5 cm)

Credit LineMuseum of International Folk Art, Gift of Bob and Marge McCarthy, A.2011.38.22

Terms

Aups

Object numberA.2011.38.22a-c

ProvenanceThe tradition of making santons ("Little Saints") in Provence, France began after the revolution when it was forbidden to have the creche figures in churches. People made them at home of wax or wood or ceramic and added local figures bringing gifts to the Christ Child. See paperwork in file titled "How Santons Are Made" and "How Mamie Martin Santons Are Made."

DescriptionStanding older woman(a) holds wood cradle(b) with bundle of blankets(c) in her outstretched arms. Woman has brown hair under a white bonnet. She wears a long black and white striped skirt with a long multi-black striped apron, a 3/4 length sleeved cream/pink floral print blouse and a brown scarf with floral edge print. Under her skirt is a lavender and gray striped slip and bloomers. She also has painted peach and red striped socks and black shoes. The rocking cradle(b) is of medium dark stained wood. The blanket bundle(c) is of white cotton felt tied with red ribbon.