This pottery nativity was hand made in Tonala, Mexico, which is close to Guadalajara. The traditional technique there is to burnish the surface of the pottery with a smooth stone to achieve a semi-gloss finish. The figures include Joseph, Mary, and the Baby, of course, but also his bed, three Wise Men, two Peasants, and two Sheep. The simple style of the figures and the painting is unchanged over the last century. The tallest figure is three and three-quarters inches tall (9 cm.).
