Holyart is a Catholic art shop in Italy that sells exclusively online. It has the largest catalogue of religious items in Europe, with thousands of products in store. A while back, someone on their behalf contacted me and offered me any product worth up to $50 that I could do a review. That idea sounded really interesting, and so I gave it a go last month. In this Post, I will be sharing with you my product review – the item I chose, my detailed comments about the product, and my overall impression of Holyart.
Talking with Holyart was easy. I commend them for being responsive and prompt in handling my order. It was a Sunday when I told them of my product choice, which, by the way, was priced at $57.14 (Holyart was kind to accept what I picked even though it was a few dollars more than what they offered). I was amazed because the very next day, Monday, they sent a message saying that they already shipped the item directly to my home address via TNT, a subsidiary of FedEx. It took 7 business days to reach Manila, Philippines, right within the expected time frame of shipping, which varies per country. For me, that was a quick delivery. More importantly, the package arrived here in perfect condition.
FIRST, SOME TRIVIA ABOUT ME
1. I have a growing collection of Catholic books and ebooks and a large library of both kid-friendly and wholesome Nintendo and PlayStation video games and their memorabilia, especially for Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation 4 consoles. Aside from these, some other things I love to collect are snow globes, music boxes and sacramentals.
2. I used to collect novels since I was a child, but I stopped doing so a few years ago, after realizing as a young adult that so many of them are offensive for having plots that glorify things and beliefs against my Catholic Faith and moral values. Shockingly, many of these novels deliberately talk against and mock the Catholic Church.
3. Being a native of the tropical Philippines, snow always fascinated me. That’s why I have been collecting snow globes since I was a child. I like looking at my collection because it gives me nostalgia of the Christmases we spent as a family.
3. With music boxes, my very first was from my Mom; she gave me a music box, which was one of my Dad’s wedding anniversary gifts to her. It had a ballerina and “Für Elise“ music. My parents then gave me another as a gift for Valentine’s Day, when I was 7 or 8; it had a teddy bear and “The Teddy Bears’ Picnic” music. Music boxes really make me feel lady-like, and it’s why I have been collecting them since I was a child.
4. At home, individually and as a family, we have various sacramentals such as rosaries, statues, crucifixes and others that we acquired at different points in life. In particular, I have been collecting religious images in frames, which I line up on my room’s wall since childhood. Majority of our sacramentals now were blessed under the guidelines of the Roman Ritual by Catholic priests – Exorcists, to be specific, from their Ministry in Archdiocese of Manila – whom I personally met.
5. What do my collections have in common? Well, most of them are or can be RARE. Their design, material and origin make them one of a kind. They are not just ordinarily sold anywhere. The fact that they evoke feelings of piety, tenderness and yearning also add to their uniqueness.
I CHOSE THE PERFECT ITEM FOR ME FROM HOLYART
Knowing my personality, I chose something original, one that I had never seen in my country. In other words, I wanted something rare.
There were many items in the Holyart catalogue that cost $50.
1. First, to help narrow the selection, I wanted to choose something of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, because I love them so much.
2. Then, I went for the classic; meaning, I chose the classic way by which the Holy Family is solemnly depicted.
3. Finally, considering my collections, I had to get not only what was rare, but what I personally thought would make me feel a sense of love, holiness and awe.
It took me about a couple of hours to leisurely browse the Holyart catalogue and to make sure that I checked it completely. Many of their products, for sure, are rare finds. But when I saw this lovely item, I knew that it truly was for me…
I got the Olive Wood Nativity Set with Music Box and Holy Land Pebbles, Handmade in Bethlehem!
Here it is:
See the other photos and the video at the end of this Post.
HOLYART PRODUCT REVIEW
The Nativity Set, which originated from Palestine and made of authentic olive wood, is really a ‘holy art’ in itself.
As mentioned earlier, I got the package in perfect condition. The actual container, a red box, was also in very good condition, without any wrinkle or scratch. The item inside was well-covered and protected in a thick bubble wrap.
The moment that I opened the package, wow, the scent of olive wood was evident. I mean, even before I had opened the item’s red box, the olive wood scent was already coming out strongly and pleasantly.
Holding the item, I can say that it is premium – it feels sturdy, smooth to the touch, and looks evenly polished. It is somewhat heavy, which is better than a lighter feel. Its dimension is about 6.5×7.5×4.5 inches. But it does not mean that it’s a teeny-tiny wooden piece; not at all. As a whole, the size is okay. When it comes to price, some might find it a little high, but I think considering the country of origin, the unique materials and the excellent look and quality, its value is worth the cost.
1. The very first thing I checked upon opening the item was the niche that contained the stones! True to the image on the Holyart catalogue, I found pebbles – 3 small white pebbles – safely enclosed in a thick glass covering. As stated in the product description, they are the original stones from the Holy Land, which makes this Nativity Set, as Holyart writes, “even more valuable.”
2. Next, I checked the figurines of Baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph. They are well-carved, without damage or blemish. A figurine’s detail is always important to me. Each time I shop for a figurine or statue, I particularly look at the face, and pick which one of the choices look the prettiest. But there’s not really a way to do that and compare when you’re shopping online, so I’m really glad that my item’s figurines all look great.
3. And of course, as this Musical Nativity Set is the newest addition to my collection, I checked out the “carillon” or the music box just as soon, to see if it was working. The sound is produced by turning clockwise the key, which is artistically placed in the form of the Star of Bethlehem. I felt relieved once I heard the sound was playing. What’s nice is that the carillon does not feel fragile when you wind it up.
I was a bit excited what the music would be. The tune was not in the product description and only described as “typical of Christmas;” I suggest that they put it in their website. My guesses were, of course, either Silent Night, O Holy Night or O Little Town of Bethlehem. Most likely, it would be Silent Night, I thought. And “Silent Night” it was!
4. What’s a manger scene without the cute animals? This item’s got a bull or cow and the ‘Little Donkey’ on which the Blessed Mother rode, as she and her Most Chaste Spouse traveled to find a place to bear her Child.
5. At the center of the back panel is a cutout of an Angel playing the trumpet. One thing is that it took me some time to realize that such carving was an Angel playing the trumpet. My family even had to tell me what it actually was. And after they did, I still had to figure out how come it’s an Angel and a trumpet. It looked like an ‘abstract’ to me. I think it would have been better if the whole back panel was solid wood, with an embossed and more a recognizable carving of an Angel playing the trumpet.
6. Completing the look of this Nativity Set is the word “Bethlehem” embossed on the front.
7. On the sides of the box, it says,
CERTIFICATE
“This confirms that this object is an authentic religious article, produced from the original olive wood of the Holy Land.”
“Which are mainly religious crafts are made of the locally cultivated olive trees. This raw olive wood material is obtained from the prunes of young olive trees, and the trunks of the old unproductive trees.”
It’s interesting to know where the wood material for these kinds of items come from. Much of this Nativity Set, I think, is made of young olive trees, while the roof part of it is most likely taken from the trunk of an old unproductive tree, and thus, giving it a different texture.
8. I have this imagination that the olive trees that comprise this particular Nativity Set of mine were planted in the very same place where ancient olive trees once stood; in a place where Jesus Christ and His holy Apostles once walked or preached, since Bethlehem is in Judea after all. I would just like to believe that it’s a real probability!
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Why get a Nativity Set, you might ask, since Christmas is still months away? As somebody who’s into collecting, I would say that artworks of good craftsmanship such as this one definitely deserves a place in the home all-year, and not just for the Season. So once you find a piece of religious art that really means something and speaks to you, I think you better get it the soonest you can.
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In summary, I’m completely satisfied and happy with the product Holyart sent me. This item ticked all the boxes of my basis for selecting which product to review: Jesus, Mary and Joseph are present in a classic depiction of the Nativity scene. It is an original handcrafted item from the Holy Land, made rare by the use of olive wood and the inclusion of pebbles. And as the music plays from the Star of Bethlehem carillon, it feels inviting and touching in the heart to gaze at the Most Holy Family with awe and be filled with their splendid love.
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THE BEST CATHOLIC IS NOW AN AFFILIATE WEBSITE OF HOLYART
Your Holyart qualified purchase will help us run this Website through Affiliate Links. If you want to buy from Holyart, please click the links to HOLYART.
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THOUSANDS OF ITEMS SOLD IN HOLYART
Compared to the other Catholic stores online that I browsed before, the website of Holyart looks visually lighter on the eyes. Their layout does not look cluttered, despite the thousands of items in their catalogue. All in all, it is easier to navigate than others.
Also, in comparison again to other Catholic stores online, Holyart does have a much larger catalogue of both commonly used religious articles and more unique items. Their products range from religious items such as sacred icons, crucifixes and crosses, statues, medals and pendants, rosaries of different kinds, angels, religious gift ideas, and handmade jewels, to liturgical accessories such as chalices, church furnishings, and liturgical vestments, to consumable church materials such as incenses, Communion bread and hosts, and votive candles, to various monastery products, and many more.
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So if you are looking for a unique item for yourself or a loved one, a special gift for any occasion, or just in need of a religious item for personal use, Holyart is highly recommended with its wide variety of quality products online, prompt customer service, and fast, reliable delivery.
She graduated cum laude from the University of Santo Tomas, the country's Pontifical and Catholic university, with an AB in Legal Management and minor units in Theology.
As an unmarried woman, prayer holds a central place in her daily life, with a focus on the Rosary and the Divine Office. Embodying her faith, she emphasizes the growth of her inner spiritual life, guided by the wisdom of Carmelite spirituality.
God manifested to her in a unique and radical manner, which made her know Who He truly is and led her to total surrender of her life to Him.
She has studied the Bible with her family, developing a particular fondness for the Old Testament.
Her adorable and intelligent toy poodle is a delightful companion in her daily life, bringing warmth and joy to her home.
Her hobbies include reading about everything, learning Japanese and German, listening to music and playing the flute.
In her leisure time, she enjoys gaming on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch OLED, Nintendo 3DS, iOS and OS, and collecting things related to PlayStation and Nintendo.
Email: [email protected]
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