In the ancient city of Naples, in Italy, the workshop of the Ferrigno family was born in the 19th century, which has been handed down from generation to generation and the nativity scene figurines fascinate young and old.
(Vatican News Network)One of the symbols of the Italian city of Naples is undoubtedly the crib. In fact, walking through the streets of Naples, one is sure to see some of the artisan workshops of the famous master of the crib. Among these shops there is one that stands out for its history, prestige and originality, that of the Ferrigno shop, now managed by Marco Ferrigno. Every day, with his skilled hands, he creates many shepherds and other figures placed around the Christmas crib.
Marco Ferrigno explained to Vatican Radio – Vatican News: “Our laboratory was born in 1836 from the intuition of my great-great-grandfather, handed down from generation to generation and now to me. I was about 6 years old. Since then it has been like a game”. This game is now not only his vocation, but also a mission: to preserve an ancient tradition that is part of the historical and cultural heritage of the city of Naples.
There is a lot of handwork and passion behind the creation of the crib figurines. Clay is also among the materials used to make these statues, as is the fabric from which the statues are made. Christmas nativity scene master Malgu said: “The key ingredient is handwork”. He points out that the elaboration of the figures and meticulous attention to detail characterize his workshop. The techniques used to make the statues are the same used in the past.
Furthermore, it is necessary to remember the characteristics of the three fundamental scenes of the Neapolitan crib: the first is the sanctuary, which is a symbol of the triumph of the Christian faith; the second is the inn, where both sin and virtue are exuded; The scene features several sleeping shepherds awakened by an angel announcing the birth of Jesus. ‘Traditionally, there are 12 lambs around the Christmas crib, representing the 12 months of the year, so it’s a crib that can be placed throughout the year,” Ferrigno said.
Another feature of Fellino’s work is the combination of past and present. He enters their shop to admire modern characters alongside traditional figurines.
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