Lot 17

THREE MAGI

The richly carved Baroque figures of the Three Kings are characters from the Gospel of Matthew who came to worship Jesus shortly after his birth in Bethlehem and brought him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Nativity scenes in the form of sculptures or live figures have a history dating back approximately 1,500 years. A strong tradition of nativity scene production can be traced back to Naples in the 18th century. In the Neapolitan school, the clothing is still made from luxurious fabrics and other accessories, such as wax and paper elements, which contribute to the elaborate details. The wooden sculptures on offer were probably part of a larger nativity scene. Later polychromy.