Grotta dell'Asinello – Handmade Italian Nativity with Turning Donkey, Fountain & Lights
Grotta dell'Asinello – Handmade Italian Nativity with Turning Donkey, Fountain & Lights
In Stock - Only 4 left!
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A hillside Nativity with a working donkey mill, handmade in Italy. Grotta dell'Asinello ("the little donkey's grotto") is a traditional Neapolitan presepe set into a rugged cork hillside. At its heart, the Holy Family rests in a red-brick arched grotto, while long stone stairways climb either side towards small brick houses at the summit. On the terrace above, a little donkey turns the village millstone, just as it would have in an Italian hill town, beside a waterfall tumbling into a brick basin.
Switch it on and the scene comes to life. Warm lights glow across the hillside and through the grotto, the donkey turns the mill, and the waterfall flows, powered by the included electric pump. Every rock, stair and tuft of moss is shaped by hand from natural cork, wood, moss and paper.
A true collector's piece. Animated Italian presepi like this are rarely seen in Australia. With only 4 available, this is a piece to treasure and bring out Christmas after Christmas.
Features
- Handmade in Italy in the traditional Neapolitan presepe style
- Crafted from natural cork, wood, moss and paper
- Turning donkey at the millstone, waterfall fountain, stairways, hilltop houses and Nativity grotto
- Lights and electric fountain pump included
- Very rare collector's item, limited to 4 units
Specifications
- Size: 53 cm (W) × 41 cm (D) × 52 cm (H)
- Materials: Cork, wood, moss, paper
- Origin: Handmade in Italy
- Includes: Lights, turning donkey mechanism and electric pump
- Suitable for: Indoor use only
- Collection: The Christmas Collection
Delivery
Pickup from our Riverstone Warehouse (81 Riverstone Parade, Riverstone NSW 2765), or local delivery within 25 km of Riverstone. Local delivery is free on orders of $800 or more; for smaller orders, delivery can be arranged for a fee — contact us for a quote.
On request, we can transfer your piece to our Castle Hill Showroom (19 Victoria Avenue, Shop 6, Castle Hill NSW 2154) for pickup, with 48 hours' notice.
Not available for shipping interstate or overseas. Each piece is handmade in Italy from natural cork, wood, moss and paper, and is too fragile for long-distance freight and repeated handling.
Care
Display indoors on a stable, level surface away from direct sun, heat and moisture. Dust gently with a soft dry brush. Fill the fountain basin with clean water only and keep the pump submerged while running.