Sketched in loose ink lines with touches of gold, the whole Nativity is here: the star, the angel, the shepherds with their sheep, and the kings. When the neighbors drop in on a December afternoon, carry it out with shortbread, and the story is right there between the plates.

The platter is hand-painted speckle stoneware from Mud Pie, with its ends shaped into two soft handles for carrying. It is long and flat, 9 1/2" x 16 1/2", with room to spare. The drawing keeps a gentle, folk-art feel, a manger with a red bow, a stable roofed in greenery and three crowned kings at the right, so everyone gathered around finds something to look at between bites.

• Hand-painted speckle stoneware
• 9 1/2" x 16 1/2"
• Dishwasher safe. Microwave safe.