Nativity : Krippenfigur Elephant

This object is a German Nativity figurine, known as a Krippenfigur. It is not a standalone statue but rather a component piece from a large, traditional German Christmas Nativity scene (Krippe).

Historical Context and Purpose

This figurine would have been part of the procession of the Three Wise Men (the Magi). In many German and broader European traditions, the Magi are depicted as kings traveling from distant lands with a large, exotic entourage to pay homage to the newborn Christ.

Symbolism: The inclusion of exotic animals like elephants and camels symbolized the farthest corners of the world—representing continents like Asia and Africa—coming to worship.

Function: The prominent saddle on the elephant indicates it was designed to carry either one of the Magi (tradition sometimes pairs one of the kings, like Caspar, with an elephant) or their precious gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Origin and Manufacturing Style

The style of the figurine is highly characteristic of historic German workshops. Germany, particularly Southern Germany (Bavaria), has a long and celebrated tradition of creating intricate, high-quality Nativity figures, with some museum examples of such entourage pieces dating back to the 18th century.

The craftsmanship strongly resembles pieces produced by Marolin, a company founded in Steinach, Germany, in 1900. Marolin became famous for its detailed figures made from papier-mâché or a special composition material. The company has produced elephant figures very similar to this for its large Nativity sets, some based on historic models from the early 20th century. Other historic German companies, such as Lineol and Elastolin, also produced similar composition figures for their scenes.