Vintage Santon in Painted Plaster from Provence - Lady with Soup - 9"

A large-scale vintage plaster santon of a soup bearer from Patricia and Walter's "Marseille Cabinet" in the living room at Chanteduc. Patricia explains, "This one is from the Musée du Santon Marcel Carbonel, the santon museum in Marseille. She’s so cute and very expressive. I started a collection, but I didn’t get very far," she admits with a giggle. She had only a few santons, chosen with love, and this one stood proudly among them. Unsigned yet clearly handmade, the figure carries a silvered ladle and a wire-handled pail of soup. The hand painting is lively and exact: a green shawl, deep blue apron, dark sleeves, and glossy black shoes on an olive base. Her open, engaging face suggests the warmth of a village cook. Minor chips to the forehead and chin and light paint wear attest to an honest patina, as shown in From Marseille, the historic capital of these nativity figures, this example reflects spirited tradition while nodding to Patricia’s cuisine, where a generous ladle of potage is always welcome. Tall in presence, it reads beautifully on a kitchen shelf beside a tureen, on a dining room console, or placed within a seasonal crèche to bring Provençal esprit to everyday meals and festive gatherings.