The two artists have been identified as Tommaso Schettino (working between 1783 and 1804), renowned for his animal models and his brother Giovanni (also 1783-1804), both from the Real Fabbrica delle Porcellane (Royal Porcelain Factory).
   Many porcelain figurines and groups signed, or initialled, by Giovanni are known, and the elegance and the formal synthesis of these presepe figures lead directly back to his stylemes.

The backdrop of the presepe is made from mother of pearl, branches of coral and lapis lazuli. The animals, figurines and putti are made of polychrome terracotta, coated with egg tempera to protect the colours from changing with time.