Images(16)

Creche

Object number2019.79.1 a-o

Manufacturer Joseph Poli Company (founded 1890)

Artist Joseph Marchetti

Date1950-1959

MediumPlaster; Paint; Metal; Felt; Adhesive

Credit LineGift of Mark Marchetti

DescriptionNativity set consisting of fifteen (15) pieces including baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, angel, three wisemen, musician, peasant, father and child figure, cow, donkey, and three sheep figures. Figures are painted plaster.DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth (a): 5.5 × 7.5 × 9 in. (14 × 19.1 × 22.9 cm)
Height x Width x Depth (b): 11.25 × 5.125 × 7.125 in. (28.6 × 13 × 18.1 cm)
Height x Width x Depth (c): 11.5 × 5.5 × 7.25 in. (29.2 × 14 × 18.4 cm)
Height x Width x Depth (d): 15 × 8.75 × 2.75 in. (38.1 × 22.2 × 7 cm)
Height x Width x Depth (e): 16.375 × 6.875 × 6.75 in. (41.6 × 17.5 × 17.1 cm)
Height x Width x Depth (f): 16.625 × 6.25 × 6.625 in. (42.2 × 15.9 × 16.8 cm)
Height x Width x Depth (g): 11.875 × 5.625 × 8.5 in. (30.2 × 14.3 × 21.6 cm)
Height x Width x Depth (h): 16.625 × 5.5 × 6 in. (42.2 × 14 × 15.2 cm)
Height x Width x Depth (i): 14.75 × 5.375 × 10 in. (37.5 × 13.7 × 25.4 cm)
Height x Width x Depth (j): 11.875 × 5.125 × 7.5 in. (30.2 × 13 × 19.1 cm)
Height x Width x Depth (k): 5.25 × 10 × 4.625 in. (13.3 × 25.4 × 11.7 cm)
Height x Width x Depth (l): 6 × 9.875 × 3.75 in. (15.2 × 25.1 × 9.5 cm)
Height x Width x Depth (m): 2.875 × 6 × 4.75 in. (7.3 × 15.2 × 12.1 cm)
Height x Width x Depth (n): 2.5 × 5.375 × 3.375 in. (6.4 × 13.7 × 8.6 cm)
Height x Width x Depth (o): 3.125 × 4.625 × 2 in. (7.9 × 11.7 × 5.1 cm)
Inscriptions(d)
Angel's banner has painted gold text "Gloria in Excelsis Deo!"
Translation is "Glory to God in the highest!"
Marks(b)
Text carved at back center of base "1899".

(c)
Text carved on back side base left of center "1899".
Historical NotesThis Nativity set is most commonly found in churches, not homes, but the donor Mark Marchetti's father Joseph Marchetti worked as an artist at the Joseph Poli Company, the manufacturer of this Nativity. It was given to the donor and his wife in the 1980s, and they displayed it in their home every year at Christmastime. Joseph Marchetti and his father, Emil Marchetti, both worked at the Joseph Poli Company and spent most of their time painting plaster statuary. Emil came to Pittsburgh from Lucca, Italy, which is where the Poli family emigrated from. Many churches own Nativities made by Joseph Poli Company. From early summer through the fall the company would make sets to sell for the upcoming Christmas season; the donor could tell which ones his father painted because he always gave Mary pink shoes.

Related person Emil Marchetti

Previous owner Mark Marchetti

Related person Jesus Christ

Related person Mary

Related person Saint Joseph

Subjects