Vintage Crèche, German Nativity French Figurines Infant Jesus Virgin Mary Joseph 3 Wise Men Putz Animals Christmas Manger Scene

Vintage crèche, German nativity figurines and French figurines. Very old plaster or composition infant Jesus in a wood crib and French and possible Putz animals, including, sheep, cows goats a lamb and a ram.

The assortment of religious figurines and farm animals range is date from the early 1900s to about the 1940s.

18 pieces total

1 infant jesus
1 crib
1 Mary
1 Joseph
2 Wise Men
1 Shepard
6 sheep
1 lamb
1 goat
1 ram
2 cows


My best guess is that all the actual human figurines are German made (as the crib for the baby Jesus is, although some of the animals are marked “Germany” and some are marked “France”.) although unmarked. All of this set was found together. These figurines seem to all be made of a plaster, but unlike any of the animals, they are hollow. All have a fair amount of wear to the painted surface, with Joseph being by far the most worn, as his surface is chipping and flaking. He measures about 3 ½” tall. The kneeling wise man has a fair amount of wear to the paint on his cloak. He measure 3 ¼” tall. The other wise man are approximately 4” tall, as is the one shepherd (one wise man is missing). Mary is 3” tall and has not too much wear to her paint, her face is clear, as is all of the others, except Joseph.

Jesus’ crib or bassinet is made a of a lightweight wood x within lays a simple bassinet shape on an angle, to hold and display the infant. There was apparently some faux straw or grass, of which just a little remains. The underside of the crib is stamped “Germany”. It measures 3” x 2” x 2” approximately. Overall the condition of the crib is very good.

The infant Jesus is solid plaster and although not marked, German mad as he goes with the above cradle. He is in good condition, with expected wear, mostly in the form of crazing to the surface of the paint and plaster and fading of the paint. He measures approximately 2” x ¾” x ¾”.

There are four plaster sheep. One is sitting, two are grazing and one is standing. Each are hand painted and on a spring green base, the underside of each is stamped “Germany”. They each measure approximately1 ¾” x ¾” x 1”. These sheep are in excellent condition, with fading and discoloration to the paint due to age, but very little wear other than minor chipping to the paint around the bases.

The baby goat is made of a wood and plaster or paper mache combination. He shows more wear than the above sheep. The top layer is worn away from all three lower legs, exposing the wood frame and his horns appear to be broken off and missing. There is minor cracking to his body surface. This wear adds to his charm and he is structurally sound. He measures approximately 2 ½” 2” x ¾”. Although not marked, there is a good chance that this goat is a German made Putz.

The two, very similar, white and brown spotted, cows are made of a wood and plaster or paper mache combination, just as the goat. One shows slightly less wear than the above goat. The top layer is worn away in spots on the legs, exposing the wood frame and her ears also appear to be broken off and missing. There is minor cracking to his body surface and one painted eye is mostly worn away. She structurally sound. The other is a little worse off, with much more wear to the plate covering the wood legs, on all legs, which basically means she is missing her two front painted hooves. She still stands, although very unevenly. He ears are broken off too, and she is in a more delicate state than the other. They both measure approximately 3 ½” 2 1/4” x 1” and are both marked “Germany” on their underbellies. These could also be Putz.

A ram, with similar issue to the above cows, as it is constructed in the same manner, it seems. And although I can see no stamp or marks, it is likely German mad as well. One lower half of a back leg is broken away, exposing the wood inside. Although essentially three legged, he stands on his own. There is wear to all other legs and cracks to the over layer of plaster. He has small chipping throughout, such as on the brown painted horn. He stands about2 3/8” tall and is about 2 ¾” long and 1” wide. Also a possible Putz German animal.

The tiny lamb is made of a similar material to the sheep and rests on a little brown painted mound. This lamb is in very good condition and shows minor wear. She is marked “France” on the underside and measures approximately 1 ½” 1 1/8” x 3/8”.

A standing, larger lamb, made in France and marked so with a small old label on it’s belly, measures approximately2 ¼” x 1 ½” x ¾”. She is in very good, worn and discolored with age, vintage condition.

Another large sitting sheep, not marked, but very similar to the above lamb in style and construction, measures 2 ¾” x 2” x 2 3/8” wide. He is in very good vintage condition.

PLEASE NOTE: I am opting to list this as a set, as it was found together and is nearly complete, although without a “shelter”.

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