Carmelite open house features Fontanini visit JACKSON — Emanuele Fontanini, head of the House of Fontanini and president of the company, will visit the Carmelite Gift Shop to autograph figures and to talk with collectors and customers, Saturday, Nov. 14, from 2 - 5 p.m.
Sister Dona Marie Degnan, shop manager, said this may be the last time Fontanini visits the shop. “We want everyone who possibly can to visit us to have their figures autographed,” she said.
For the visit, Sister Degnan redecorated 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.
Sister Degnan said the tour and open house weekends are like coming to a party, to enjoy, relax and meet with friends and have a cup of coffee with cake. Open house weekends have started and will run until Dec. 22, Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sundays, from noon - 6 p.m.
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.
For information call the shop, 601-373-3412.
