Antone Aquino's Presepio

Daytime View
Antone and Margaret Aquino, members of St. Brendan the Navigator Catholic Church, have a phenomenal presepio in their Carolina Room. "Presepio" is Italian for what we know as a nativity scene, crib or creche. In 1980 in Peabody, Massachusetts, while recuperating from surgery, Antone began to build the presepio, modelled after one his grandfather built around 1930, from scrap lumber. The first figurines were purchased at "dime" stores.
Evening View

In 1982 Antone mounted the cave section on 40" radius quarter circle plywood. He added the pink palace and the first tier of houses below the palace. In 1983 and 1984 Antone added the inn which is white with a red roof and the Victorian house. The latter is modelled after the home in which he and his wife Margaret lived in Salem, Massachusetts. That year the Aquinos purchased their first Fontanini figures in 4 1/2-inch mode.

Antone adjusting his presepio	Awaiting the birth of the Saviour

The "hill" section and the market (orange) were constructed in 1988. Floor space was added on the hill in 1993.

In 1994 Margaret and Antone retired to Carolina Shores. Both professional musicians, they purchased their home specifically because it would accomodate their grand piano and the presepio.

Antone added a store to the inn and space on the hill in 2003. Each year he adds features such as a wall and a rail fence.

The palace and most of the other buildings were built using cedar shakes. Some detail work is material purchased at modelling shops. "Glass" for windows is waxed paper between sheets of translucent "Contact" shelf-lining. The cedar shakes are covered first with Gesso and then painted with acrylic colors.

If you would like to see this breath-taking creation with nearly 100 figures, contact the Aquinos at 579-0816. Reaching their home is very easy.