Vintage Nativity Figures

It all started because my Mom was looking for some more animals for her nativity scene.  I was heading to our church's rummage sale a few months ago and she asked me to keep my eye out for cows and sheep.  In the 1950s and 60s, the dime store figures she uses in her nativity scene were very popular. She thought that there might be a chance to expand her flock at the church rummage sale.

Lo and behold, I found a small bag of mismatched Wise Men, shepherds and one sheep!  Some were plastic, most were broken or chipped and the bag was missing a key figure...Baby Jesus!  But for 25 cents, it was a wonderful start. 

I've kept these pieces on top of a cabinet in my office (as shown) since October and arranged them so that you couldn't tell that any key figures were missing!  The more I looked at this distressed bunch, the more I liked it. 

When I showed my Mom the bag of figures on the day of the sale, she insisted that I keep all of them.  In the meantime, she has given me an "extra" Baby Jesus that she had in her box of Christmas decorations. 

I already had a pristine nativity scene, complete with camels and a moss-covered manger, when this treasure hunt started.  But this little vintage scene has stolen my heart and usurped the more complete display for now. 

I have arranged my little collection on a woven charger with a garland of dried orange stars encircling it.  It is center stage on our living room coffee table - keep your eye out for it in a future post!