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AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Recently, I had the good fortune to meet with John Darcy Noble at a local Doll event. After sharing with him pictures of my wax Madonna Chreche figure (which, like any proud mother I happened to be toting), I learned that this lovely lady may indeed not be the Blessed Mother but rather a shrine figure depicting St. Elizabeth of Hungary (1207-1231). Mr. Noble, who has extensive knowledge of wooden and carton moulé creche figures plus a solid background in church history, remarked that in the 18th century and earlier it was forbidden to depict the Virgin Mary from the waist down. My was Modanna has legs and feet. This brings three possibilities to my mind: my Madonna is actually a Saint.; My Madonna was made in the early 19th century, or wax creche Madonnas were not constructed in teh same manner as wooden/moulé creche Modonnas and that they possibly had feet. To further complicate matters, the small carved wax Madonna (also featured in this article) also has legs and feet. Becasue this little Madonna came from an estate together with Joseph and the Infant Christ, I am absolutely certain that she is a Modonna. My feeling is that the larger figure is also a Madonna, and that I am correct about her late 18th century date of origin due to her construction (as suggested in the article). However, Mr. Noble is far more knowledgeable than I, and it would be a disservce to the reader not to provide his insights on this mysterious and provoking lady wax figure.

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