These exquisite mini-nativities are made from Huamanga Stone, also known as Peruvian alabaster. It is a sedimentary volcanic stone that is prized for its translucency and workability. Each nativity depicts the Holy Family with the Three Kings, the ox, and the donkey inside the manger.

The artisans select stones quarried in Huamanga in the central sierra of Peru. Huamanga stone is most commonly white, but can also be variations of gray, brown, green, or pink. These nativities are a natural product and some variations in color and/or pattern are to be expected.

                               Measurements 

           Egg manger: 2.75" high x 2" wide x 1.75" deep

           Dome manger: 2.5" high X 2" wide x 1.5" deep

           Hut manger: 2.25" high x 1.75" wide x 1.25" deep

           Chullo manger: 2.5" high x 2.5" wide x 2" deep   

               Handmade and Fair Trade imported from Peru.

Carving stone by hand is a tradition in Peru that dates back thousands of years. The country has a plethora of natural minerals including: granite, basalt, andesite, lake pebbles and a special white alabaster known as Piedra de Huamanga, which can be found in abundance in the mountains surrounding Ayacucho. Although it sounds Spanish, Huamanga is the Incan word from the Quechua language for Alabaster

Carving of Huamanga was popularized in the colonial times because of its resemblance to marble and porcelain, both which were not available in Peru. The soft consistency of the stone permits it to be easily carved, but to its detriment it is also brittle and care must be taken during the carving process or the entire piece can be easily destroyed.

White, rose, and gray Huamanga is mined from quarries in nearby Cangallo. Blocks of stone are first sawn and carved with hand chisels, burins, drills, and other appropriate tools. Later the pieces are detailed and sanded to enhance the beauty of its natural finish.

The early motifs mostly depicted the infant Jesus and other religious imageries such as saints, crosses, and the Virgin Mary. Today, Huamanga stone is widely seen in nativities and scenes that depict the local culture.