Christmas Group (Small) - Ceramic Nativity Scene, Extended Set by Nicolaas Maathuis

The Small Christmas Group by Nicolaas Maathuis is a handmade ceramic nativity scene featuring 13 solid ceramic figures, including a sheep and two palm trees in addition to the standard group. Some figures are finished with blue engobe, while the unglazed surfaces preserve the natural texture of the ceramic. The hand-formed figures combine a traditional nativity subject with a restrained, tactile aesthetic.

The extended version is presented in a wooden stable made from three separate panels. The panels are joined with wooden pins, allowing the stable to be assembled for display and taken apart for storage. The compact format makes the scene suitable for a shelf, mantelpiece, or table during the Christmas season.

Created in the Netherlands in 2024, the Small Christmas Group is signed and numbered in a limited edition of 150. It is supplied with documentation in a letterbox-sized box.

Nicolaas Maathuis is a Dutch visual artist and designer. Born on June 23 in Deventer, the Netherlands, he followed a diverse educational and professional path, studying at the conservatory (ArtEZ), the Rietveld Academy, and the University of Amsterdam. His interests have ranged from music and pedagogy to visual art and law before he established himself as a visual artist and designer.

Maathuis works across painting, drawing, ceramics, furniture and applied art, often combining artistic ideas with functional objects. His work is characterised by simplified forms, a strong use of colour, and hand-drawn and handmade elements, with an interest in bringing art into everyday surroundings.

Maathuis lives and works in Buren, the Netherlands.