Santons (Provençal: "santoun," or "little saint") are small (2.5-15 cm.) hand-painted, terracotta nativity scene figurines[2][3] produced in the Provence region of southeastern France.[2] In a traditional Provençal crèche, there are 55 individual figures representing various characters from Provençal village life such as the scissors grinder, the fishwife, the blind man, and the chestnut seller.[2][3]
The first santons were created by Marseillais artisan Jean-Louis Lagnel (1764-1822) during the French Revolution when churches were forcibly closed and their large nativity scenes prohibited.[3][3] Lagnel crafted small clay figurines in plaster molds and let them dry before firing them.[3]
A maker of santons is a santonnier,[3] and the creation of santons today is essentially a family craft, handed down from parents to children,[4] Santons are fashioned in two halves, pressed together, and fused. Hats, baskets, and other accessories are applied with an adhesive. When the figure is completely dry, it is given a gelatin bath in order to harden the figure further and to provide a surface for the application of pigments.[4] Faces are painted first, then hair, clothing and accessories. Until the end of the 19th century, santons were air-dried rather than fired in a kiln. As a consequence, such figures were fragile and easily broken.[4]Modern santons are generally fired in a kiln. There are two types of santons: santons d'argile (clay figures), and doll-like santons habillé (clothed figures).[4]
Since 1803, santonniers have gathered in Marseille each December to display and sell their wares at the Foire des Santonniers.[3] Aubagne Santon Fair in Marseilles holds a two-day fair, Biennale de l'Art Santonnier, and the Musée du Santon in Marseille exhibits a private collection of 18th and 19th century santons.[3]