Antique Fontanini & Lladró Figurines, Edward Lamson Henry Lithograph Highlight Lion and Unicorn’s Upcoming Sale

A family-run producer of handcrafted Nativity sets and figurines, Fontanini was founded by the trained Italian artisan Emmanuele Fontanini in 1908. Its products have been exclusively distributed by Roman Inc. since 1973. Elio Simonetti, the chief sculptor of the company, creates designs that are prized for their lifelike detailing. An heirloom Fontanini Nativity figurine designed by Simonetti is a key highlight of the upcoming North Carolina Vintage & Antique Estate sale from Lion and Unicorn. The hand-painted piece portrays David, the innkeeper’s nephew, modeled as a young boy dressed in a green cloak and holding a lantern in his hand. The figurine bears a Fontanini stamp on the underside and Simonetti’s signature on the back. Two Lladró porcelain figurines also lead the listings. One of them is a large, lustrous piece showing ballerinas mounted on a base. The other is a Japanese woman dressed in traditional attire, standing next to a lamp post. 

Also on offer is The Wedding, a notable color lithograph print by Edward Lamson Henry. It portrays a colonial wedding scene featuring a horse-drawn carriage. An American genre painter, Henry was best known for his colonial-themed works painted with minute details. To view the complete auction catalog and register to bid online, visit Lion and Unicorn.