This Fontanini Centennial Figure Balthazar
stands approximately 3.5” tall. All Fontanini figures are made of a durable poly/resin blend to resist chips and breaks. All figures made and hand-painted in Italy. Story card included. Balthazar kneels before baby Jesus with hands outstretched in an apricot colored tunic. His cuffs, belt and necklace are gold. He wears a cape that is an antiqued hunter green color. The trim around his cape is gold flowers. He wears a gold crown atop his cream colored mantle. To the right of him is a burgundy pillow with gold trim. His gift of myrrh sits on top the pillow in a golden urn.
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Balthazar Story:
Of the three kings traveling to Bethlehem in pursuit of a wondrous star nearly two thousand years ago, the one who had come the furthest was said to be the Nubian King, Balthazar. This “Emperor of Black Men,” who had journeyed north to meet his expected companions, is depicted in many Nativities dressed in fine robes… but writers are uncertain as to whether his first meeting with Melchior and Gaspar found him dressed quite so elegantly!

It is said that Balthazar’s journey had been so long and exhausting that his clothing was in tatters. And so we may conclude that he brought special clothing and changed before entering Bethlehem. Or perhaps his Magian brothers may have provided the attire.

Balthazar was indeed a prince of Africa and the King of Saba. Although usually pictured as mature, he does not have the wizened look of Melchior’s face… nor the exotic facial features of Gaspar. Rather, Balthazar was the Ethiopian Magus whose gift of myrrh was brought a great distance with tender care.

Of all the kings’ gifts, Balthazar’s myrrh was truly a gift of his homeland. Myrrh is an aromatic resin that comes from the bark of thorny, African trees. It was prized throughout the Holy Land 2,000 years ago, because it was said to deter vermin from invading the household when the plant was dried and pressed into incense. Symbolically, myrrh is said to represent suffering… and it was for that reason that Balthazar chose to bring to the scene of Christ’s birth a gift of such meaning.

While Melchior, the eldest statesman of the three Magi, was given the honor of being allowed to stand first before the crib of the newborn Jesus, it was Balthazar who was said to get the infant’s first attention. Despite the gold and the sweet-smelling frankincense and the jewels and the cloth brought by the two wealthy kings, ithas been written that the simple urn of myrrh carried by Balthazar awoke the baby Jesus. And he was said to smile sweetly upon the weary Nubian.

At the age of 112, on the day of the Feast of the Epiphany, Balthazar died after saying prayers at the temple. He followed Melchior in death by days and was buried next to the eldest king by their third companion, Gaspar. And at his burial, the youngest of the three Magi honored the Nubian by taking up some of the same resin as a sweet goodbye and showering the second wise man with the myrrh.