Rochard Nativity Ox Porcelain Limoges Box

The patient ox of the Bethlehem stable, keeping warm watch over the manger, is the subject of this Rochard piece, a porcelain Limoges box finished by hand in the French city that gave it its name.

Warm Breath in the Stable

Tradition places an ox and a donkey beside the manger, their warm breath sheltering the newborn on that first Christmas night. The ox has long stood for patience and strength in nativity art. Rochard paints this one by hand, giving it the soft variations in color that come from real brushwork.

Building the Nativity

• A Rochard piece, hand-painted in Limoges, France
• Adds a stable animal to a Rochard or Limoges nativity scene
• Belongs with donkey, sheep, camel and Holy Family pieces

Christmas Night on the Mantel

Many families build their nativity one piece at a time over the years, and the ox is an essential member of the stable. Set it beside the manger on a mantel, a sideboard or a church fellowship table, or place it in a curio cabinet through Advent. It makes a meaningful present for a pastor, a Sunday school teacher, a godparent, or a family adding to their scene each December. Farm animal collectors also appreciate it for the ox alone.