By Don Steen ~ Staff Writer • [email protected]
Emmanuele Fontanini, great-grandchild of Emanuele Fontanini and scion of the House of Fontanini, made a return journey to the Santa Claus Christmas Store Saturday, August 3. The Fontanini family is renowned for its nativity sculptures, several of which are available for purchase at the Santa Claus store. A crowd of customers quickly formed hoping to have their pieces, as well as a special ornament for 2024, signed by the artisan himself.
The Fontanini family legacy began in 1908 inside a one-room shop in Bagni di Lucca, a village in northern Italy. Fontanini’s great-grandfather had traveled to the art centers of Europe and come home with money and knowledge to launch the House of Fontanini.
Bagni di Lucca, and Italy’s Tuscany region in general, is known for its fine figurine crafting. The elder Emmanuele worked with the best painters and sculptors to bring his vision to life. Nativity collections from the House of Fontanini quickly became quite popular, and still are four generations later.
The House of Fontanini has imported its works to the United States through Roman Inc. since 1973.
Featured Image: Emmanuele Fontanini of the House of Fontanini returned to the Santa Claus Christmas Store last Saturday
(Left): The House of Fontanini is renowned for its articulately crafted nativity sculptures; (Right): Emmanuele Fontanini signs a few figurines for customers at the meet-and-greet
