Retablo Altar Item Number: 2903/15 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Small altar containing three dimensional figures representing the nativity. The exterior of the object is painted yellow-white. The side walls and top of the altar are bordered with dark blue. On each side of the altar, there are successive rows of yellow and pink dots over top the yellow-white background. The door of the object is attached to the altar with two pieces of leather that serve as hinges. There is a flower painted on the front of the door. It has pink, blue and green petals. Above the door, there is a triangular piece of wood attached to the front of the roof, giving the façade a triangular roofline. On the inside of the door, there is a pink flower with green leaves. Inside the altar, the back and side walls are painted dark blue. There are gold stars in the sky. At the back of the scene within the altar, two haloed figures stand in either corner. On the left side, the figure is a man who holds a staff in his left hand. In the right corner, the figure is a woman who has her hands clasped in prayer. Both of the figures look upon baby Jesus, who lies on a circular crib between them. The crib is yellow and has a crimped edge that is painted pink and gold. In front of baby Jesus, on the left side, there is a kneeling angel with yellow wings and a red cloak. She has her hands clasped in prayer. Opposite the angel, on the right side, there is a man in a brown hat and jacket; he plays a flute-like instrument. There are two sheep lying in front of the baby. One of them reclines on all fours. The other stands as if he is sniffing the baby. Both of the animals sit upon green mounds. There is a piece of tape stuck to the back of the object with a number written on it in blue pen.