Neapolitan Presepio	Close up of the Holy Family	Members of the court
June Kibbe answering questions	June shows the wax fruit from the exhibit
	the crowd loved it

The source and summit of the Christmas Nativity scene is the theatrical 18th century Italian manger, the Neapolitan presepio. In the elaborate setting of classical ruins, you will not only find the traditional shepherds but also vendors, farmers, trades people, peasants and members of high society - all going about their daily business. The members of the Holy Family (the Mistero) are the only figures garbed in biblical costume. The others reflect 18th century dress. Since Naples is a thriving international port, the manger scene also includes an exotic mix of visitors – Africans, Samaritans, Arabs and Orientals – as found in the teaming streets of Naples itself.

The figures themselves feature heads of sculpted terra cotta covered with a smooth finish of gesso before being painted. The eyes are of glass. The bodies are hemp and strands of fiber on a wire armature, thus enabling the figures to be posed in changeable life-like positions. The feet and hands are either terra cotta or carved wood. The sizes of the figures vary, depending on their intended location – anywhere from a cathedral church to a nobleman's palace. The figures are carefully dressed in tailor-made clothing of silk, brocade, leather, and homespun fabric. Some are accessorized with jewelry created especially for them by gold and silver smiths. All of the figures but three* in this display are authentic 18th or early 19th century museum pieces.

In addition to the figures themselves, the scene comes alive with myriads of animals made of clay or wood. There are also accessories including musical instruments, farm and household implements, weapons, fruit and vegetables, dishes and pottery, and woven baskets. These are made of a wide range of materials, including wood, terra cotta, wax and precious metals. The landscape includes carefully created shrubs, trees and other features. In this particular exhibit, notice the silver wire urn carried by one of the magi and the silver casket being transported on the back of the elephant. It is almost impossible to find period accessories. The ones shown here are contemporary reproductions.

June Prescott Kibbe laboriously created the setting. It includes an inn and a camel custom made especially for this exhibit. The museum-quality figures are from the collections of June Prescott Kibbe and Dorothy and Jerome McGonagle, all of Massachusetts. The display is over twenty feet in length.