DIOCESAN NEWS
010/02/09
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Fontanini collectors urged to save date
       JACKSON — Fontanini collectors are advised to save the date, Saturday, Nov. 14, to welcome Emmanuel Fontanini, head of the family and president of the company, to the Carmelite Gift Shop to autograph figures and to talk with collectors and customers.
       Sister Dona Marie Degnan, shop manager, said this may be the last time Fontanini visits the shop. “We want everyone who possibly can to save the day and visit us to have their figures autographed. It is very important for us to give him a magnificent welcome.”
       For the upcoming visit, Sister Degnan will redo the exhibit of the Fontanini villages so people can see the vast collection of items that can be part of each village.
       “We are re-introducing our former promotion of giving a free figure after a purchase of 15 items of the same size and expanding significantly the buy two get one free offer in the five-inch size,” she said.
       The Fontanini tour ornament this year is a small Holy Family ornament. This ornament, Sister Degnan said, can only be purchased in a store where Fontanini visits and the sale of the figure is limited to one year.
       “We want all Fontanini collectors to know about this exclusive ornament so they can plan to purchase it for the modest prize of $12,” she said. People who can not attend on Nov. 14 can purchase the figures ahead of time and leave them in the store to be signed.
       Evelyn Durst, shop employee, said she hopes to have the store “ready for Christmas” by early November so when people come for the Fontanini day, they don’t have to come back later if they want to purchase Christmas gifts.
       Sister Degnan said the tour and open houses are like coming to a party, to enjoy, relax and meet with friends and have a cup of coffee with cake.
       According to Sister Degnan, the House of Fontanini, which has been producing handcrafted nativity sets since 1908, not only designs nativity figures but also people and places. Their items convey the idea of what it would have been like to live in Israel in the time of Jesus, Sister Degnan said. Each figure has a story card explaining the history of the particular nativity character.
       “It is a beautiful way to prepare for the Christmas season, she said. “Years ago a suggestion was made to set up your display early and every night take out a character from your collection, read its story and give it a place in your display. It’s like a movable, dimensional Advent calendar.”
       The most popular Fontanini nativity scene is a seven-piece set composed of 5-inch characters. However, Fontanini nativity characters are available in eight different sizes up to 50 inches tall.

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