Retablo Altar Item Number: 3149/1 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Retablo altar. The outside of the box is light yellow with large floral motifs on the sides and on the inside and outside of the doors. Inside are two scenes with small plaster figures vibrantly painted. At top is a nativity scene showing a large baby laying in a manger surrounded by the parents and people praying, and a man playing a small guitar. Donkeys and sheep surround the manger, and cherubim protrude from the side walls. The rear panel of the scene is painted as a dark blue sky with a large gold star at centre. Below this scene is a smaller one showing people in traditional clothing attending an outdoor church service, with figures playing musical instruments. Cattle mingle in the crowd. A large cactus sits to one side, and there is a small building in a back corner. The side walls are white and decorated with multicoloured dots. The outer structure is a box made of wood with a pediment above two doors that open on leather hinges, contained by thread that passes through metal rings to keep them from opening too far.