Explore Slovene Museum of Christianity
Our museum houses one of the leading wax figurine collections in Slovenia. Most figurines depict baby Jesus and the nativity scene, baby Jesus the Comforter, the infant Jesus from Prague and the Virgin Mary. With over 40 objects this collection is comparable to similar collections in Europe. Most figurines, clothes, crowns and similar accessories were given to us for safekeeping by the Škofja Loka Ursulines between 1990 and 1992. Most figures were severely damaged, however, they have been thoroughly researched and restored. In 2005 the museum presented most of these figurines at the temporary exhibition entitled Jesulus Pragensis: The Infant Jesus from Prague and Other Wax Figurines in the Slovene Museum of Religion. The exhibition was accompanied by a catalogue (bearing the same name) which included the reproductions of the exhibited wax figurines.
The wax figure of Holy Infant of Prague from Škofja Loka holds a royal apple in the left hand. The wig is from natural hair. The figure stands in a golden cupboard with glass doors. The cabinet was probably made in 1842, when the monks moved the figure of the Holy Infant from the main altar to the altar of St. Valentina (F. ŠTUKL 1995, 25). Of all the preserved specimens from the Uršulinski diocese of Škofja Loka, this figure is most similar to the original Holy Infant of Prague. It is entirely made from a similar yellowish wax, and joint movements can also be found in the shape of the body, head and face. He originally had a gold-plated "Habsburg" crown (Order No. 5), which the nuns later replaced with the present. The shallow cavity of the left foot in front with the remains of an unsaved red wax seal shows that the authenticity of this statue was confirmed by seal.
The statue of Mary with the dead Jesus in her lap from the 18th century. The body of Mary is made entirely of wood. Only the head and the palms are made from the wax. Mary sits on a simple base, holding a dead Jesus in her arms. She slipped her head against her son, her long hair falling over her shoulders. Wigs are from natural hair. The face is made extremely precise. Eyes are made from glass, eyebrows and lips are painted. On the head there is a crown made of gold-plated and silver-plated metal wire (Drahtarbeit), attached to a paper base. She is dressed in a black silky dress, decorated with rich silk embroidery. A gold-plated lace shell (Goldmuschelspitze) is adorned around her neck. Underneath the upper dress is a simple white cotton dress, which is trimmed with a white lace on the neck and on the sleeves. Jesus, lying in her lap, is entirely out of wax. His naked battered body, full of bloody wounds, covers only a belly of white cotton in his lungs. The figure was put in a wooden box with glass doors and glass faces. The background of the locker is covered with dark shiny decorative paper.
A figurine that has only a head and a palm made of wax. Position of the hands and size of the figurine remind us of Salzburger Loretkindl.
Smaller waxed figurine of Jesus as a child. The figure is dressed in a red garment with lace edges. On the chest there is a symbol of the Heart of Jesus - a burning heart. The cupboard is made of hard paper (cardboard) and glazed with glass. The interior is dressed in light blue paper with decorative flower decor in golden color.
Wax figure of the Jesus as a child lying and sleeping on the cross, which predicts his later martyrdom death. The figurine is placed on a bed with a cross, and the whole motif is inserted into a glass cabinet. The background of the locker is decorated with fine embroidery. In addition to the floral ornament, the IHS monogram is also exported. Rob placons adorn fine silk flowers.
Wax miniature of Jesus lying on white fabric in the manger. He is dressed in a white cover. On the head there are bright scarred hair and metal nimbles around it. The thumbs of the right hand are broken.
The central motif in a glazed paper box of is Mary as a child. She lies in a white silk on a bed of yellow silk. Her head is waxed, with a white lace on her head, the silk is decorated with gilded wires, metallic glitter, colored glass and other decoration. Under the head there is a decorated pad, also on the bed.
The wax figure of the Salzburg Loretokindle who is dressed in a silk dress. He has a filigree-made crown on his head and holding a cross in his left hand. The crushing figure is stored in a wooden cabinet or an altar.
Wax figure of St Joseph from around 1760/1780. The figure is probably part of Baroque cribs. The upright figure has only the head and the palm made of wax. The fine eyes are made of glass, an extremely precisely designed hairstyle and chin are made of natural hair. Sv. Joseph is dressed in a silk brown suit with an apron. The dress is not original.
The body of the figure is made of cotton base. Only the head is made of wax. Head is covered with natural hair. The eyes are made off glass. The borders of the eyes, eyebrows, nasal holes and lips are painted. Mary lies in a wooden box with a glass front. She is laid on a bed, made of lighter cardboard. The front side of the bed adorns the Mary's monogram and vegetable decoration. Flowers made from fabrics are preserved along the body. Under the head, placed on a small cushion, we see the golden rays of paper. The interior of the locker is filled with darker paper.
The body of the Jesus as a child lying (Fatschenkind, type Bambino di Aracoeli) is made of cotton base, pulled into white silk, bound with metal strips decorated with white balls. Hands are free. The head and the hands are made of wax, the eyes are painted, the wig is made of natural hair. On the head there is a crown knit from gold-plated and silver-plated wires, decorated with glass colored pebbles with ornaments of leaves, knitted of gold and green silk around a paper base. The figure lies on a velvet cushion, in a wooden box with a glass front face and glass faces. Background of the locker is covered with red commodities. It is affixed with the inscription IHS, two flowers from metal wire, glass strawberries and pebbles, and four relics: S. Reliquiae, S. Illuminatae, S. Innocenti M., S. Hippolitus M. The relics are wrapped in white silk and poured with metal flat wire. Names of saints are written on paper strips.
The figure sitting on a black wooden base is completely cast in an unevenly thinned wax. The eyes are made of glass. Eyebrows and nasal pins are painted, the color of the lips is damaged. Original, heavily damaged hair was replaced with new wigs from natural hair. The figure is without a crown. The left hand is shifted to the body, the right is stretched. The figure is dressed in three suits. The upper light green silk suit is heavily faded. It was originally blue. It is decorated with glitter and decoration made of clear, light blue pellets. The lower outfit and skirt are made of white cotton. They are lined with lace. A necklace of artificial pearls is around the neck.
The body of the figure is made of cotton base, tied with strips. The head, hands and feet are faded into a lighter whitish wax. Jesus stands on a simple wooden base. Both arms are covered in elbows and their palm facing upwards. The original attributes are not preserved. The head is a very nice example of a Baroque head with eyes made of glass. Eyebrows, nasal holes and slightly clipped lip are painted. The faces are slightly tinted. Wig from natural brown, straight hair is well preserved. The crown is made of a paper base. It is decorated with silver plated and gold-plated decks and a glass pebble on the front. The figure is dressed in five dresses. The upper outfit is made of blue silk, decorated with vegetal decoration. The coat is decorated with a botanical ornament made of glass and gold bullets. At the edges, a gilded lace is found. Two lower wings and lower suits are made of white cotton. They are trimmed with a white thin lace. Jesus is standing in a cabinet. Background of the locker is covered with velvet dark blue. In the upper corners two relics are attached: St. Agapita from Praenesti and St. Valentina. Wrap in white silk and wrap it with a metal flat tape. The writing tape with names is from paper.
The Body of the figure is made of cotton base, tied with strips. Head and palm are made of wax. In the left hand the figure is holding a royal apple, the right hand is lowered by the body. The eyes are made of glass. Eyebrows, border of eyes, nasal holes and lips are painted. The faces are slightly tinted. On the head there is a new wig from natural hair. The brass crown is adorned with small stately portraits of saints. Jesus is dressed in three clothes. The outer garment is made of bright silk. It is decorated with a vegetable pattern with a strong relief contour and a painted sculpture. A cap in the shape of a narrow band is laid over the shoulders. Around the neck we see a collar of gold-plated beds. The lower outfit and skirt are made of white cotton.
The figure is made of wood. Only the head is waxed. The arms and legs are movable in the joints. Jesus holds a royal apple in the left hand, with the right one he is blessing. On the head there is a crown made of gilded and silver plated knitted knitted and knitted paper (Drahtarbeit). Decorative flowers decorate pebbles of colored glass. The eyes are made of glass. The original, heavily damaged hair was replaces by the new natural hair. The figure is dressed in four clothes. The upper white silk dress is embroidered with silver embroidered embroidery. Below it is a skirt and a simple cotton dress. The figure wears a bright silk coat, decorated with a glass or golden ornament of glass. At the edges, a gilded lace is found.