Ceramic panel with musical mechanism ‘The Holy Family’, presented in the section ‘Mechanical Musical Instruments and Objects’ of the museum Collection. The item was made by Swiss craftsmen ‘Thomas & Krannig’ in Zurich at the turn of the 19^th – 20^th centuries.

A niche with the composition “The Holy Family” is in the carved wooden frame under glass. Made of white biscuit and artistically painted in soft tints, the composition depicts the Virgin Mary with baby Jesus Christ and her husband Saint Joseph. Crimped folds of golden color silk surround the composition. A ribbon with the inscription in French “La Sainte Famille” is beneath the figures.
The niche is framed by multicoloured image of arch applied on the cover glass inner surface. Goldish cherubs surrounded by ribbons and acanthus leaves are on the plinth blue-green background. The arch is supported by goldish columns with the images of saints with halos over their heads. Acanthus leaves and curls frame vases with royal lilies beneath goldish crowns. The surface of arch upper part is decorated with the quatrefoils patterns. A vase with leaves and two fancy feathered creatures on the sides is in the arc breaking. The arch is on black background. Musical movement with metal cylinder and sound comb is mounted in the wooden case that covers the panel rear side. A keyhole decorated with goldish rosette and activating button are on the case right side. Winding key is in the set.

The theme of the Holy Family in art gained special significance in the late Middle Ages. Since the closing of churches in France in 1793¹⁾, most Catholic families around the world have begun to make Christmas creches for home use out of a variety of materials, featuring the constant characters of the Christmas story – the Virgin Mary, the baby Jesus and Saint Joseph. This was how Santons appeared (Fr. santon, literally "little saint") – miniature clay figurines depicting Biblical characters, saints or ordinary people.

The tradition of making Santons dates back to the times of the French Revolution, when, according to the new anti-clerical laws, churches in the country were closed, and it was forbidden to offer the liturgy. However, was not easy for worshipers to turn their backs on celebrating Christmas, and many of them secretly set up Christmas cribs at home. The first clay Santons were created in 1798, by the Marseille sculptor Jean-Louis Laniel. His works were in high demand, so Laniel came up with more and more new characters. He was the author of the most common types of Santons, which are still reproduced nowadays. Laniel used special patterns to create the bodies of the figurines, while their hands, hats, decoration details and accessories were made by manual way and attached to figurines’ bodies.

In 1803, the first fair where multifarious Santons were presented, was held in Marseille and later it became the common annual tradition. In the 20^th century, Santons were still popular. Earlier clay figures were left unburned, as time went on; they were made from the baked (burned) clay. Thus the possibility appeared to store them longer and to transport them over greater distances.

¹⁾ On November 24, 1793, the commune of Paris issued a decree banning Catholic worship and closing all churches.