Wax, Italian, by Gaetano Giulio Zumbo, c.1680-1700

Against a background of ruined pillars and arches through which is seen a painted landscape the seated Virgin, holding the Child in her arms, leans forward towards a group of eight figures who stand an kneel to the right calling to one another with gestures of exclamation and wonder; at her knee, to the left, kneels another ragged figure with a trussed sheep at his side while behind three further shepherds listen to Joseph's description of the wonder. Above the Virgin are three flying putti holding a cross. The whole is encased in roughly-made black painted wood box with a sliding glass frame.

Given by Mr Sigismund Goetze

The wax was bought by a dealer while travelling in Italy (?). It was then bought in London by Mr Henry Burney and repaired by him. Later it was put up at Christie's (in 1935 "two or three years ago") and sold to a "small dealer" from whom it was bought back by Mr Burney, who again repaired it and sold it to Mr Goetz.

Mr Burney added the manger, the pillar on the right, the column and two angels at the top (one in part only). These are in coloured plastic wax. Acording to Mr Burney the original figures were modelled in clay and moulds made, the moulds were then painted and the eyes inserted and the wax poured in. This took up the colour and the eyes.

Against a background of ruined pillars and arches through which is seen a painted landscape the seated Virgin, holding a Child in her arms, leans forward towards a group of eight figures who stand and kneel to the right calling to one another with gestures of exclamation and wonder; at her knee, to the left, kneels another ragged figure with a trussed sheep at his side while behind three further shepherds listen to Joseph's description of the wonder. Above the Virgin are three flying cherubs holding a cross. The whole is encased in a roughly- made black painted wood box with a sliding glass front.

A.3-1935