Black Peter Netherlands International Resourcing Services Inc SC17 Zwarte Piet
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You are viewing a rare figurine of Black Peter from The Netherlands that I have posted in my Ebay Store.
This figurine is from The International Santa Claus Collection of 1995 and is figure SC17.
This figure measures approx. 1 1/2″ wide x 1 1/2″ deep x 4 3/8″ tall
In the Netherlands, Christmas gifts are brought by a kindly Bishop called Sinter Klaas and his servant Zwarte Piet (Black Peter).
Sinter Klaas and Black Peter arrive on December 6th, St. Nicholas Day.
They sail in on a boat from Spain, Sinter Klaas astride a white horse with Black Peter walking loyally beside him.
Black Peter was added to the Sinter Klaas legend sometime during the middle ages.
He originates from the notion that on his birthday, St. Nicholas was able to chain the devil and use him as a servant.
Gradually this idea evolved into the image of Black Peter—a mischievous sprite with horns and a soot covered face.
He is most often pictured wearing full velvet breeches and a cap with a plumed feather.
Black Peter carries a big book which contains a record of the good and bad deeds of children.
At Sinter Klaas’ bidding, Black Peter drops gifts down the chimneys of good children and bundles of birch rods down the chimneys of naughty children.
Dutch Children leave their wooden clogs by the fireplace filled with hay or carrots for Sinter Klaas’ horse.
It is into these shoes that Black Peter drops sweet and small toys.
Sinter Klaas, arrives on a ship in the Amsterdam harbor every year with his side kick and helper Black Peter.
The harbor area is mobbed with parents and adults waiting to see the pair.
The Black Peter character is part of the annual feast of St. Nicholas, celebrated on the evening of December 5 (Sinterklaasavond, that is, St. Nicholas’ Eve) in the Netherlands, and December 6 in Belgium and Luxembourg, when candy and presents are distributed to children.
Black Peter appears only in the weeks before Saint Nicholas’s feast, first when the saint is welcomed with a parade as he arrives in the country having traveled from Spain where Sinter Klaas spends the rest of the year.
Black Peter’s job is mostly to amuse children, and to scatter pepernoten, kruidnoten and strooigoed – special Sinter Klaas candies for those who come to meet the saint as he visits stores, schools, and other places.
This is one of two figures representing the Netherlands in the International Santa Claus Collection.
Black Peter is dressed in billowing velvet breeches and sports a long flowing cape and a feather in his cap.
He is shown reading from his record book and holding a pair of wooden clogs filled with carrots.
Black Peter seems to be one of the rarer of the International Santa figures and today commands a significant premium when offered for sale.
This 1995 figure is in excellent, like new condition.
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