A single lot special seasonal auction of Neapolitan Christmas crèche figures, dating from the 19th and early 20th centuries, offered by Lark Mason Associates, is still open for bidding through January 12th on  iGavelAuctions.com

The comprehensive collection offered includes a group of winged angels, the three magi, musicians, and many other figures and animals. The three magi are of particular interest, each boasting a “gem” studded metal crown with finely crafted clothing, all three bear matching metal swords with lion pommels. The annual tradition of setting up the Christmas Crèche is still alive and well in many homes throughout the world.

Says Lark Mason: “This auction offers an opportunity for those who celebrate this time-honored tradition to add to their collection or for new entrants to begin a fun and beautiful way to celebrate the Christmas season.”

Naples, Italy is known for extravagant works of art, Pompeii and Herculaneum and the beautiful bay of Naples but lesser known is its reputation as the center of production for carved wood, pottery and fabric créche figures created for elaborate biblical nativity scenes. Created as visual representations of Christ’s birth and the Christmas story, créche figures were made in local workshops in Naples. The finest examples have beautifully embroidered silk and metallic thread costumes, with metal swords, musical instruments, tools, and leather bags and clothing representing the entire social strata of the small Italian hill towns and cities that displayed these scenes during the Advent and Christmas season.

Among the highlights– all from the 19th century– are an Italian Neapolitan Polychrome Wood and Terracotta Bagpiper; an Italian Neapolitan Polychrome Wood and Terracotta Mother with Child; Three Italian Neapolitan Polychrome Wood and Terracotta Noble Ladies; and Three Magi Italian Neapolitan Wood and Terracotta Figures.

The sale of more than 65 figures and objects is currently on view at Lark Mason Associates in New Braunfels, Texas, at 210 West Mill Street. For additional information, contact: txoffice@larkmasonassociates.com or phone: 212-289-5524.

About Lark Mason

With locations in New Braunfels, Texas and New York City, Lark Mason Associates, the eponymous, auction house specializing in Asian, ethnographic, and ancient works of art, was founded by Lark Mason after many years as an expert at Sotheby's New York.

Mason served as a General Appraiser from 1979 until 1985, and as a Senior Vice President and specialist in Chinese art with Sotheby's Chinese Works of Art Department from 1985-2003.  From 2000-2003 he concurrently was a Director of Online Auctions for Sothebys.com. He also served as a consulting curator at the Trammel and Margaret Crow Collection of Asian Art in Dallas, Texas from 2003-2009. He is a generalist in American and European works of art and paintings, as well as an expert in the field of Chinese art and has valued and advised many private collectors and institutions.

Lark Mason Associates regularly hosts auctions on the iGavel Auctions platform and has an established history of record sales of Chinese and other works of art and holds the record for the highest price achieved for any work of art in an online sale, for a painting sold in May 2014 that realized close to $4.2m. Mason, the owner and CEO of iGavel Auctions, is noted for his regular appearances on "The Antiques Road Show."