Chalkware German Belsnickle Santa
'Enchanted Forest' Deer & Tree of Life Design — Cat# S616
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The Artistry
S616 is a masterwork of textile-inspired storytelling. The Santa's coat is hand-painted with a traditional Tree of Life motif, featuring a standing deer at the base of the tree—a symbol of peace and grounding within the natural world. The design is deeply inspired by 17th and 18th-century Jacobean Crewel Embroidery, where intricate wool-work brought botanical scenes to life.
The Design
The scrolling vines, stylized winter florals, and earthy color palette echo the rich textures of needlework found on historical fabrics. The antique German chocolate mold provides a high-relief surface that perfectly mimics the dimensional quality of crewel-work, allowing the hand-painted deer and blossoms to "pop" against the coat's background.
Of Special Note: Cast from an antique German chocolate mold. Standing 6 1/4 inches, each piece is hand-cast in chalkware, hand-painted, signed, numbered, and dated by Kathryn Campbell. This design is a featured selection in our Signature Series-Masterworks.