The world famous Fontanini® figurines originated in Tuscany, Italy, and have become a huge success. Now, collectors all over the globe treasure the famous Fontanini® nativities. The figures go through a rigorous process, making them very valuable, unique, and extremely high in quality. The members of the Fontanini® family usually come together with a design team, which includes a master sculptor to come up with new ideas for the figurines.
The process of making Fontanini® nativities is very particular. First, the figures are hand sculpted in lifelike sizes. These are usually created off of an original drawing made by someone on the Fontanini® team. Then, the clay sculpture is remade out of beeswax once the team has approved the final design. The sculpture is then made into a mold using rubber or metal, which will be used repeatedly for mass production. As time passes, this mold can be refined to make the figures better over time by adding finishing touches. The final mold is used for the nativities until the team decides it should be retired, making Fontanini® nativities a rare and collectible item.
Probably the most important part of Fontanini® nativities is their final process, which is painting. Each piece is hand painted to ensure that it has character and quality. The painters are usually all members of the family, who have passed the traditions down from one generation to the next. The first step in painting the figures is the clothing. Usually, the painting team forms a sort of assembly line, where each member paints a different part of the clothing. Another special team who ensure the most accurate and detailed of expressions paints the facial features. When the figure has been painted and dried completely, a patina finish is added. Then the figures are presented for the story card team to develop a story for each figure. Fontanini® nativities have become a popular choice for Christmas nativity sets, and are highly valued and treasured by all who receive them.