Catalog: Popular Collectibles: Decorations: Holiday (132)

Fabulous handpainted sheet iron feather tree stand. The Christmas tree stand features three elves contemplating their traditional lucky mushrooms. The elves, one each in blue, red and yellow hooded suits, are seated on little grassy knolls planted with flowers. The painted details are terrific; each elf has completly different facial features than his friends. The center pole is painted green with metallic silver highlights.

Origin: probably Germany, circa 1910. Condition: completely original; 2 screws missing (easily replaced); paint is 95% intact and is very colorful. Size: 15-3/4" diameter; 9-1/4" high; opening for tree is 1-1/4" diameter.

An extremely rare early German wooden double-ratchet noisemaker featuring a composition and wood witch with moveable arms. Ratchets with full-body figures are very uncommon. The witch wears a red crepe paper ruffle and a pinkish paper skirt. The ratchet is stamped "Germany."

• Origin: Germany, ca 1920
• Condition: excellent, all original
• Dimensions: 9-1/2" x 5-1/2"

Very rare early German double-ratchet noisemaker featuring a composition devil head wearing a crepe paper ruffle. The ratchet is stained orange and black and is stamped "Germany."

• Origin: Germany, ca 1920
• Condition:very good, all original, a few nicks to the composition at high points (ear and horn tips, nose, cheeks)
• Dimensions: 7" x 4-1/4"

An outstanding early German wooden double-ratchet noisemaker featuring a composition black cat head wearing a crepe paper ruffle. The clacker blades are stained black. The ratchet is stamped "Germany."

• Origin: Germany, ca 1920
• Condition: excellent, all original, clacker blades appear to have been re-glued to the frame, typical fading to crepe paper
• Dimensions: 8" x 6"

A terrific and very rare lithographed tin chocolate box, the lid decorated with "The Wheel of Fund and Frolic" Halloween game. The spinner points to various party tasks such as "Push a pickle across the floor with your nose" or "Sing a mammy song in black-face". Some of the tasks, like "Turn out the lights and have each girl kiss the boy nearest her" sound like a little more fun! The side of the tin is marked "Mrs. Sothern Home Made Sweets". Ca. 1930. Good condition, but with scratches and some wear to the playing surface. The spinner is replaced with a later plastic pointer. 10-1/4" diameter.

Wonderful vintage liquor bottle in the form of “Pere Noel” or Santa Claus. Dressed in a long, Belsnickle-type robe, he carries a huge pack of toys on his back, a doll in one hand and a walking stick in the other. The original paper label around the base says, “Benoit Serres Distilleries Toulouse France Depuis 1841”. The label at the neck, just below the bakelite top, indicates that the original contents was triple sec. The paint is original and shows about 20% loss.

Origin: France, ca. 1930. Condition: very good, no chips or cracks. Size: 12-1/4” tall.

Terrific composition Mama Rabbit candy container. Dressed in a blue dress with orange polka dots, Mama carries a wicker basket with a pressed cotton chick in it. Unmarked, but definitely German, circa 1930. Condition: very good, there is a bit of paint flaking on the front of the dress; the wicker basket has a good bit of cracking; the face is especially nice. Size: 6-3/4" tall.

Cold-painted Viennese bronze sculpture of a devil. This half-goat half-man figure is very well detailed, even showing the individual vertebrae along his back and the curls of his hair.

• Origin: Austria, ca 1900
• Condition: near mint; tiny surface rubs at sharp points such as the fingertips

Dimensions: 2-1/4" tall.

Outstanding antique German snowman Christmas candy container. We've had many vintage Christmas candy containers, but never this design. The entire papier-mache container is covered with red and white chenille. The snowman straddles the container, making a sort of basket handle. His black eyes are glass and his nose is composition. The inside of the basket is marked "Germany."

• Origin: Germany ca. 1930
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: diameter, 4-1/2"; height, 5-1/2"

Rare tin cookie cutter in the form of a Christmas Belsnickle (AKA Father Christmas, Santa Claus). The cutter is stamped "555" on the back between the airholes.

Origin: American, circa 1890s. Condition: excellent, a small bit of rust. Size: 9-5/8" x 3-1/2".

Vintage American pulp Halloween jack o'lantern with the original paper face insert. Near mint condition. 5-1/2" tall (not including handle).

A delightful vintage Halloween bisque figure in the form of a broom-carrying witch and her black cat. Items such as this were used as table decorations, but it’s also possible that they were filled with small candies through the hole in the bottom, then sealed with paper and given as party favors. The witch, with her pasty complexion, gaping mouth, and crossed eyes really looks more like a space alien than a traditional witch. Only her broom and black cat betray her true nature!

• Origin: Japan, ca. 1930
• Condition: excellent, less than 5% paint loss
• Dimensions: 4” tall

A delightful belly-laughing Santa, patriotically dressed in red, white and blue, stands atop a round box candy container enhanced with mica to represent snow. Santa is stamped "Japan" at the back.

• Origin: Japan, ca 1930
• Condition: excellent, no chips, cracks or paint loss
• Dimensions: 3-5/8" tall

A delightful set of six vintage composition turkey place card holders for the Thanksgiving table. Each turkey is brilliantly decorated in colorful paint including a metallic silver that adds touch of realism to the feathers. Each is stamped "U.S. Zone Germany" indicating they were made between 1945 and 1952.

• Origin: Germany, 1945-52
• Condition: excellent; the paper covering at the bottom of one has been opened; two 1/16" paint nicks to one turkey
• Dimensions: 2-1/8" tall

An unusual vintage Halloween wooden ratchet noisemaker decorated with a plastic black cat. This is the only old wooden ratchet we've seen with a plastic decoration. The ratchet is stained orange with a green clacker. The cat is marked "Made In Japan."

• Origin: Japan, early 1950s
• Condition: excellent, all original
• Dimensions: 8" x 5-1/2"

A terrific lithographed tin Easter toy by Chein. A jaunty rabbit, decked out in a straw hat, pulls a cart decorated with various Easter bunny scenes. The back of the cart is marked with Chein’s logo.

Origin: America, ca. 1930. Condition: one back corner of the cart has some bubbling of the finish, but otherwise excellent condition. Size: 11-1/2” long; 7-3/4” tall.

Extra-large German Dresden-type papier-mache Easter egg candy container. The chromolithographed paper covering shows a wonderful assortment of roosters, hens, chicks, and of course, Easter rabbits. This is undoubtedly the largest Easter Egg candy container we've seen. The interior is lined with the traditional star patterned paper and the rims have a Dresden border. One end has the original string hanger. Marked "Germany". Circa 1920s. Very good condition, bright colors, about 30% loss of Dresden border. Size: 7-1/2" long, 5" wide.

This terrific little German composition candy container, circa 1920's, was made for Abraham Lincoln's birthday--representing the famous frontier log cabin in which he was born. I've never seen this container before and it's in terrific condition. The bottom is marked "Germany." 2-1/8 long; 1-1/2" deep; 1-9/16" tall. Excellent condition.

With its Lincoln's Birthday theme, this would be a terrific addition to your patriotic holiday collection!

This is the Santa or Jack Frost in a curved pinecone (Type I) ornament. This variation is more uncommon and has more detail than the Type II variation. Excellent paint (except some wear to white beard) and silvering. No chips or cracks. 3-3/4" long.

A delightful bisque figure of a skiing Santa Claus carrying a cloth sack on his back. The paperboard skis are enhanced with glittery mica snow. The bottom is stamped "Made in Japan."

• Origin: Japan, ca 1925
• Condition: all excellent, except one ski has an old break that was reglued
• Height: 2-3/4">/li>

Vintage celluloid windup carousel toy featuring chicks that bob up and down from windows, a bit chick that spins around amid twirling bells and celluloid flowers, all under a pink celluloid canopy. Marked "Japan". Circa 1950. Excellent condition; the canopy droops just a bit, probably from being in a box for too long; windup mechanism works. 7-1/4" tall.

Fabulous papier-mache Easter candy container in the form of a duck. This fellow has real feathers on his wings, one of which opens on a spring hinge to get at the candy. The bill is wooden and the eyes are glass. It's got everything but the quack! Unmarked, but undoubtedly German. There is a slight amount of the damage to the webbing on the feet and the feathers are a bit ruffled, but otherwise he's in very nice condition. 8.25" tall; 7.5" beak to tail. Circa 1930's

Very nice vintage celluloid doll dressed up in a fanciful crepe paper Halloween costume. This is the sort of handmade party favor illustrated in Dennison's "Bogie Books". Circa 1930. Very nice condition, with just a little wear on the hat. 7" tall.

Great hard plastic "Easter Express" candy container/toy. Unmarked, but made by Rosbro. This is a great example of how the company made parts interchangeable so they could create new items by joining together a seemingly endless selection of rabbits, ducks, roosters, chicks, etc. Circa 1950. Excellent condition, there is a crack on the underside by the axle that appears to have happened at the factory, since it is completely secure and shows no signs of regluing. 8" long, 7-1/4" tall.

Great hard plastic "Easter Express" candy container/toy. Unmarked, but made by Rosbro. This is a great example of how the company made parts interchangeable so they could create new items by joining together a seemingly endless selection of rabbits, ducks, roosters, chicks, etc. Circa 1950. Excellent condition, original "grass". 8" long, 7-1/4" tall.

Terrific hard plastic Easter candy container. A cute lamb pulls a card piloted by none other than Donald Duck. Two chicks ride in the card behind Donald. Unmarked, but probably by Rosbro. Circa 1950s. Excellent condition. 8" long, 4-3/4" tall.

Excellent vintage Halloween papier-mache party noisemaker in the form of a banana. These are more often found in the shape of a carrot. Unmarked, but definitely German, circa 1925. It has the original 10-cent price marked in pencil. Excellent working condition; all original. 7-1/2" long.

Excellent vintage Halloween papier-mache party noisemaker in the form of a cucumber. These are more often found in the shape of a carrot. Unmarked, but definitely German, circa 1925. Excellent working condition; all original. 7-1/2" long.

A set of three vintage bisque candy containers in the form of a basket and a black cat with a Halloween orange neck ribbon. These would have been filled with small candies and given as party favors. The bottoms are stamped "Japan."

• Origin: Japan, ca 1935
• Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks, original paint
• Dimensions: 2" x 2-3/4"

Full sheet of unusually large vintage German diecut Santas carrying toys. Two of the Santas wear the harder to find blue robe. The colors are gorgeous and this sheet would look terrific framed. Each Santa Claus measures 9-1/4" tall--an unusually large size.

The assortment of toys is wonderful--nutcrackers, racecars, dice, dolls, airplanes, books and toy horses.

The tabs are marked "Printed In Germany", "PBZ" and "1211". The printer was the Paul B. Zoecke company which was founded in Berlin in 1896.

The two blue Santas are duplicates and two of the red Santas are duplicates (the red Santa to the far right is different.) The full sheet measures 9-1/4" x 13-1/2".

Condition is excellent. Two of the Santas have a slight crease.

A rare vintage bisque jack o'lanern placecard holder and candy container. A thin slit just above the eyes holds a placecard. This is the only bisque card holder/candy container we've seen.

• Origin: Germany, ca. 1929
• Condition: very good; about 10% paint loss
• Dimensions: 2" diamter

Colorful hard plastic lollipop holder in the form of a clown on wheels. This piece, intended for either Christmas or Easter, is very difficult to find. Made by Rosbro.

Origin: America, circa 1950. Condition: excellent, no cracks, a little paint wear on the nose, a small scratch on the side of one leg, and discoloration to the glue joining the halves. Size: 6-1/2” tall.

Santa face in a curved pinecone vintage blown glass Christmas ornament. Nice, bright paint. The red, white and blue coloring would look nice on a patriotic tree! Nice condition, maybe 20% paint loss on back of pinecone, excellent silvering. 4" long.

A vintage bisque Halloween candy container in the form of a black cat rubbing up against a jack o'lantern. The porcelain is heavier than many bisque items, suggesting it is of American origin.

• Origin: America, ca. 1950
• Condition: good; about 15% paint loss, mostly on the back side
• Dimensions: 3-1/4" x 2-1/2" x 2-3/8"

Vintage wind-up Santa Claus toy. When activated, Santa rings his handbell and waves his other hand. The face is rubber and the clothing is felt with "fur" trim. Marked "Made In Japan". Circa 1930s. Excellent working condition. 7" tall.

Excellent vintage celluloid Christmas light in the form of Santa Claus carrying a pack of toys. Celluloid lights are very difficult to find because they were so brittle and flamable. They were made ca. 1915-25.

This one is in remarkable condition, in virtually mint condition. There are no splits, dents, burns or melts! The 3.5 volt bulb tests as non-working with a continuity tester (celluloid lights should never be tested with a 9-v battery). 3-3/4" tall.

This is as nice an example as you will ever find of a rare celluloid light!