laboratorio la smorfia

strada dell’anticaglia, 23 80138 Napoli-  Italia
tel.: +39 081 293812
P.IVA: 0123456789
info@laboratoriolasmorfia.it

THE HISTORY OF NAPOLITAN’S CRIB FROM THE ORIGIN UP NOW

The origin of crib goes back to the pagan tradition.
In fact, Latin and Etruscan people venerated “Lares
familiars”, dead ancestors for the family protection.
The dead ancestors were represented either by small
terracotta sculptures or by little statues made of wax.
They honoured them on December 20th during the
holidays named “Sigillarie”. The day after children
used to find foods and presents.
Upon Constantin’s victory in 4th century the pagan
holidays became religious, as he committed himself
to the building of the first Christian churches.  He
changed habits and dates giving them religious meanings.
By this representation the modern crib was created, even
if the previous traces go back to 15th century and
longer. In Naples we find documents and news about the
crib starting from 1025 in the church of  “S.Maria del Presepe”
and in 1324 in the cribs chapel of D’Alagni house in Amalfi.
We all know that the crib’s origin go back to 1223
when S. Francesco represented the Nativity scene in the
woods during the Christmas holidays, but then there was just a stable.
In 15th century some sacred representations started to take
place in the Neapolitan churches and in some chapels:
S.Giovanni a Carbonara, S.Domenico Maggiore and S.Chiara.
The polychrome and the wooden statues were full size and
of a deep religious intensity. In 15th century the modern crib
was born and medieval symbolism was left behind.
Then many cribs were made like in S.Gaetano da Tiene,
in S.Maria della Stelletta, close to the Incurabili Hospital.
We begin to see the first signs of  painted relief landscape,
kids and we also find the first animals like: a cow,
a little donkey and gradually other animals like sheeps.
In 15th century  we find the first movable crib,
besides smaller and smaller statues. 18th century
is the golden age for the Neapolitan crib. In fact, king Charles 3rd
of Borbone brought the Neapolitan city again to the highest
cultural and artistic level.
Regarding the crib’s art then the shepherd was created.
Such a statue was made by using new techniques that
replace the carved statues with mannequins made of core wire
and limbs made of wood and heads of terracotta.
Those shepherds could move and therefore be more expressive.
The artisan who made them was called ‘Figurinaio’.
In every house women helped those artisans with the manufacturing
of dresses.
Among the many artisans we remember G. Sammartino, who made
a lot of excellent works. In this period we begin to have a kind of scene,
made of a rock that will be changed into the ruins of a pagan temple.
The nativity scene began to be full of characters like the Magic Kings,
peasants, young shepherdesses, many processions with gaudy dresses.
Then many symbols of the crib appeared. According to the Christian meaning,
the Magic Kings represent the journey of the sun through the night and that
shall rejoin the true light ‘The Infant Jesus’.
The character called ‘Benino’ represents the man who is dreaming of
all that is happening in the crib scene.
The washer woman represents the witness as well as the midwife
presented at the Virginal childbirth.
The tavern and the host represent the place of perdition and sin.
The king of that century is surrounded with important and clever artists.
We will remember among those Mr Cappello and Mr De Fazio
who introduced the lighting and so the passage from the night to the day light.
The dresses are made of S. Leucio’s silk and we remember Mr Mosca
who made them very small and precious.
In every house there were people who took part in the creation of the best cribs,
which could be either small or big, either over rocks or in glass-cases.
In 18th century the crib represents the Baroque art too,
with historical documents and Neapolitan habits.  In this period Naples
become the capital of culture. After the kingdom of Ferdinando of Borbone,
many of these cribs were sold out.
At the present time only a few representations are left, like Cuciniello’s
and some others in the S. Martino’s Certosa.
Nowadays Naples is a city with many aspects, little and great problems,
modern buildings and ancient churches. As we already said, its history is
the one of a magnificent city and keeps being a centre of art and culture.
This city is known in the whole world like an exporter of  creativity and art.
In the ancient Naples among slopes, little and large streets and stairs
there are many art workshops. There is one called ‘LA SMORFIA’,
a typical old art workshop, where it is very difficult to discern the
limit between art and daily life. Everything perfectly merges into a typical
scene and somehow this workshop is unique as it continues with fidelity
not only the old production of cribs, but it also takes back artistic and
cultural activities, like the crib’s art of restoration and holy icons,
which is all done by using classic and special techniques. The material,
the objects and the old clothes and the authentic reproductions of
embroideries of  18th century all aim to revalue the holy culture
that there was in the past and in that keeps living in the present.
As already said, the workshop ‘LA SMORFIA’ witnesses an old tradition of artisans,
yet with the energy typical of a young environment.
The young F. Paolella with passion and commitment takes care of
selected materials and products, so to keep the old tradition at a high standard.
Each object is made, from the beginning to the end, by using the old techniques
and designs of 1700 and the details are always hand-made. Those objects are
unique and precious, they are for customers fond of beauty and of true art.
For this reason Fabio Paolella pays great attention to the use of good materials,
he focuses on making shepherds, hands, feet etc. of  wood and ceramic,
like the ones of 1700. The shepherd’s inside is made of tow, his eyes and
those of the animals are either made of glass or of crystal. The animals are made
of ceramic and their ears and horns are made of lead. The shepherds’ clothes
are made of silk and hand-sewn.
All these are planted and aged by means of old  procedures that are
jealously guarded. The holy art particularly prestigious, unique and
of high quality is the flagship of this workshop and Fabio takes care
of it personally, restarting the old holy-icons of the old churches.
He is an ambitious young man and fond of Neapolitan culture.
He has been making shows in Italy and abroad. He is an important member
of the association named ‘Amici del presepe’ and he is clever like his
ancestors in the artistic field.
When buying his crafts or asking for a restoration of a piece made by him, one
will certainly feel proud of having an unique and excellent piece.
The holy sculptures made in this workshop are excellent and very important
for the Neapolitan tradition, in which holy-icons are at the first place as
an expression of all manifestations that one can find in the Baroque churches,
in the streets and in every house too.
Many different works are represented like ‘SS. Immacolata’, ‘S. Anna’,
‘S. Placido’and ‘ Infant Jesus’ in this workshop ‘ LA SMORFIA’ you can
find the holy images as they are considered artistic and cultural works.
F. Paolella makes and restores holy images and makes them brand new by
using non covering oil painting. His moulding is handmade in a classic way.
The shepherds’ faces are made of different glosses. The animals’ painting
and moulding are always handmade, yet the anatomy is very detailed.

If a  kid, a sheep, a cow or a donkey are observed through
our shop-window, they look real.
Our workshop ‘LA SMORFIA’ remarkably creates crib scenes in which the study
of nature of past times is evident.
By observing these scenes we may find the outspokenness of Neapolitan people
in all expressions and the most impressive thing is the reproduction of old
workshops and crafts, scenes that we can still find in the old neighbourhood of Naples.
This workshop represents even the images known in the whole world as
‘Pulcinella’, S. Gennaro’. Even the name LA SMORFIA reminds us of
the acuity and the irony of Neapolitan people.