Munich, Bavaria – The Munich Cathedral nativity scene in the Frauenkirche has been enhanced with a new, meticulously crafted two-humped camel, a creation of the Gebauer family from Bairawies. This significant addition, months in the making, highlights the enduring tradition of Bavarian craftsmanship.
A Journey from Bairawies to Bethlehem: The Camel’s Story
The journey from the Orient was long, and upon arrival with the Three Wise Men in the stable in Bethlehem, the camel needed to rest. “Standing, it would have exceeded all dimensions,” says Florian Gebauer, a nativity scene builder from Bairawies, with a laugh. This year, he augmented the Munich Cathedral nativity scene with a two-humped dromedary. Even lying down, it stands a good half-meter tall.
A Family Endeavor: Crafting the Pine Wood Animal
The animal, featuring a dark mane and large eyes, was a true family project, as 75-year-old Anneliese Gebauer explains. Her grandchildren, 13-year-old Anna and 10-year-old Florian junior, assisted with the initial priming using flax water. Anneliese herself was responsible for the artistic design, using stone chalk to create the fur texture and mixing her own color tones. She learned this intricate craft from her late husband, Wolfgang, a renowned wood sculptor who passed away in 2018.
Her son, Florian, oversaw the conception, ensuring the camel was proportioned correctly relative to the other nativity figures without dominating the scene. “The sacristan would have preferred it smaller. But it’s not right for the ox to be larger than the camel,” he noted. Earlier this year, he traveled to a woodcarver in South Tyrol with several cardboard templates. The carver then fashioned the animal from a thick pine trunk according to Gebauer’s specifications. A private donor covered the costs of the creation.
Months of Meticulous Work and Artistic Detail
“We began the painting in July,” his mother recounts. “Each coat of paint requires a drying phase, and in between, you always have to sand.” Following the style of the approximately 100-year-old Cathedral nativity scene, she also created another sheep and a billy goat. By October, the animals were complete, and in November, the Gebauers transported them to Munich. However, the camel will only be visible in the Frauenkirche on Epiphany, as this is when, according to the Christmas story, the Three Wise Men from the Orient finally reached Bethlehem after their long journey.
The Gebauer Legacy in the Munich Cathedral Nativity Scene
With this new addition, a significant portion of the nativity scene in Munich’s Liebfrauendom now originates from the Bairawies workshop. As early as 2008, Wolfgang Gebauer had expanded the ensemble with the Annunciation scene and the Flight into Egypt. Four years ago, master carpenter Florian created a new stable building for the Holy Family and the animals. Like almost all Bairawies nativity scenes, it is designed in an Oriental style, resembling a Bedouin tent. As Annemarie Gebauer emphasizes, Jesus was born in the Middle East. The 75-year-old is delighted that her artistic family was able to contribute the camel to the Munich Cathedral nativity scene this year: “Now the Three Wise Men finally have a means of transport.”
