A New England Tradition Since 1987

The story of the Navone Folk Art Santa began at Christmastime in 1987, when Frank Navone carved a Santa by hand as a special holiday gift for his wife, Sandy.

It was a simple gift made from the heart, never intended to become anything more. But there was something about that first Santa—his weathered face, old-fashioned character, and the warmth of Christmases long ago—that captured the spirit of the season.

The following year, Frank and Sandy began creating Santas together as Christmas gifts for family and friends. Before long, what had begun as a quiet family tradition found its way into other homes, where the Santas became treasured keepsakes brought out each Christmas and passed from one generation to the next.

Nearly four decades later, Frank and Sandra Navone continue that tradition in their Newtown, Connecticut studio, thoughtfully designing, carving, and painting each new addition to the Navone American Folk Art Santa Collection.

Every Santa begins with an original carving by Frank. From that carving, a precision mold is made in the Navone workshop and carefully cast in pecan-shell resin. Each Santa then returns to Sandy, where it is individually painted, distressed, antiqued, and carefully detailed to capture the warm, timeworn character of an early American heirloom.

The finishing touches are never hurried. Each Santa is given his own personality and patina before being signed and dated, ensuring that no two are ever quite alike.

What was once affectionately known as “the best kept secret in Newtown” has grown into a collection cherished by families and collectors throughout the country and around the world.

Yet through all the years, the heart of the tradition has remained unchanged.

From the first Santa carved as a Christmas gift for Sandy in 1987 to the Santas being created today, every Navone Folk Art Santa carries with it a little of the same story—a love of Christmas, a respect for early American craftsmanship, and the hope that something made with care today may become a treasured part of a family's Christmas for generations to come.

Proudly designed, created, painted, signed, and dated in Newtown, Connecticut.

American Folk Art. American Made. A Christmas Tradition Since 1987

Castings From Sculpted Clay