1930s Standing Clay Face Putz Santa Claus Figure Just over 5 inches tall to the top of his red wool flannel cap, this vintage Santa Claus putz figure dates to the 1930s, possibly 1920s. He has a molded clay or composition face and real cotton beard trimmed with wool (not acrylic) chenille. His pants are dark blue, shoes and belt black with a silver foil scrap buckle, and he stands on a white mica-encrusted cardboard disk.

Santa is in quite good condition for his age, but the lacquered holly leaves and berries he carries in his arms have seen better days. The holly is chipped, flaking, and one leaf is broken off - it's just been tucked into his arms. I'm not sure if it's original or was added at a later time.Other than the age worn holly decoration, the figure is in very good shape with no tears or problems. The base isn't marked, it was probably made in Japan although these were also made in Germany.

Circa: 1930s
Manufacturer: Pre War Japan or German Import  

Ideal 1950s Most Wonderful Story Christmas Nativity Scene Doll Display This rare Christmas nativity creche scene was made by Ideal Toy Company in 1958. It's a manger display depicting the baby Jesus in the form of a vinyl baby doll. The box resembles an oversize book when closed. Inside is a litho manger scene background and stand up diecut cardboard figures of Mary, Joseph and two lambs. The story of the Christ Child's birth from the gospel of Saint Luke is printed on the base insert. When opened, the display measures 16" by 12" by 16-1/2" high - that's without the included cathedral background unit, which adds another 10 inches in height.

The cathedral has transparent plastic stained glass effect windows and is made of heavy cardboard with a faux granite paper finish. It is extremely rare, I have never seen another one included with the Ideal Nativity and in fact was not even aware it existed prior to discovery of this set. It comes in its original paper envelope with assembly instructions and paper fasteners.

The presentation box is in good condition with a couple of tiny scuffs on the outside, nothing noticeable. The interior graphics are in great condition, there's just one small tear to the paper at one corner where the top folds down, shown in a closeup photo. The soft vinyl Baby Jesus doll is in excellent condition, clean with no damage and little if any wear. About 8-1/2" long, the doll has jointed arms and head and realistic amber eyes. The gold painted sturdy cardboard cradle has no tears or damage. The original white blanket is present as well as the still-sealed bag of straw.

The diecut stand-up figures of Mary, Joseph, and the animals are in great condition too, but the elastic that holds them upright has aged some and needs to be tightened or knotted to hold them in proper position. The stiff board of the cathedral window panels has curved with age and storage but the plastic windows have no breaks or cracks. There is some age shadowing to the base which will be covered by the box when displayed. The metal paper fasteners are perfect with no bends - it appears the cathedral was never set up or displayed at all. I just propped the panels up for the pictures without fastening them together. The Nativity display comes in its original carton which is quite worn with tears and a missing end flap, but it's done its job of keeping the set protected the past 50 years. I read once that Ideal only produced this item for a single Christmas season. It's rare enough to come across the complete set in such remarkably good condition, but to find it with the stained glass cathedral backdrop is simply amazing.

Circa: 1958
Country of Origin: US
Manufacturer: Ideal Toy Company  

4 Packages Vintage Gold Foil and Bead Craft Flowers Four sealed packages of vintage floral craft flowers in bright metallic gold lamé foil with gold bead centers. There are six flowers per package on foil-wrapped wire stems, each about 1-3/4" diameter. The flower petals are shaped like poinsettias, making them ideal for Christmas wreaths and ornaments or package decorations. They are unused and still in their sealed packages from a Utah craft store that went out of business in the late 1960s. Six sets of four packages (24 flowers) available, price is per set.

Circa: 1960s
 

Napco Pair Miniature Bone China Santa Claus Christmas Figurines Two tiny bone china Santa Claus figurines, each about 2 inches tall. One Santa holds a gold bell and a toy sack, the other is leaning over his open bag filled with gifts. They have green spaghetti wreaths with red berries around their caps. One is missing his foil Napcoware label, the other label is present but partially torn. Both figurines are in excellent condition.

Circa: 1970s
Country of Origin: TW
Manufacturer: Napco, Napcoware  

Circa 1920 Viscoloid Celluloid Santa Claus Christmas Rattle Figure This 5-1/4" celluloid Santa Claus is a child's rattle dating from 1914 to about 1920. It was made in America by the Viscoloid Company. The colorful old fashioned Santa is carrying a basket of fruit and a wrapped present in one arm. His other hand holds the toy sack slung across his back, from which a baby doll peeks out. Little beads inside rattle nicely when the figure is shaken.

The toy has amazing detail and the paint is still in excellent condition. The only damage is a hole and tiny crack to the baby doll's head as shown in the closeup photo. The tiny dark spot at the lower edge of Santa's coat is a stray paint speck. Marked on the back USA V Co.

Circa: 1920
Country of Origin: US
Manufacturer: Viscoloid Company  

Holt Howard Christmas Angel Candle Holder Figurine This 1950s spaghetti angel figurine by Holt Howard looks like a sweet Christmas figurine at first glance, but turn it to the back and you'll see she's a candle holder. The angel is 4-1/4" tall, has closed eyes with lush dark lashes and carries a pair of red bells in one green-mittened hand. She is wearing the classic Holt Howard ermine trimmed spaghetti fur hooded cape. The angel has no damage or crazing. Slight paint miss to the red ribbon on the back and a stray dab of gold paint in the same area. Original gold and red foil HH Japan label is intact on the underside.


Circa: 1950s
Country of Origin: JP
Manufacturer: Holt Howard  

Glolite 1950s Lighted Christmas Nativity Scene Display in Original Box This illuminated Nativity scene lighted Christmas display was made by Glolite in the late 1940s to early 1950s. The concave, dimensional dome shape scene is made of thin vacuform plastic and measures 12 by 9-1/2 inches. The Star of Bethlehem is cut out in the sky above the scene so it glows brightly when the scene is lit up.

The display is clean and in good condition with no damage but there are a couple of old tape marks at the top as shown. The back has tape residue at the top as well. Underneath the base written in ink is a 1953 gift notation. The display lights up fine and the cord is in excellent condition. The box has some storage wear but is intact and the graphics on the lid are very nice.


Circa: 1948
Country of Origin: US
Manufacturer: Glolite  

1930s Decorated 15 Inch Bottle Brush Christmas Tree with Glass Candles An old, very beautiful bottle brush style tabletop Christmas tree decorated with mercury glass balls, glass candles, and a glass star at the top. The branches of the 15" high tree, as well as the solid glass candles and star topper, are attached to a steel cone base. You can probably insert a light bulb inside to light up the glass candles and star. I could have done a better job of plumping out the branches for the pictures - they were kind of scrunched up from storage but are easily adjusted and they do not shed.

The tree has twelve 2" glass candles, plus the glass star on top. The star has a few flakes at the points, the candles are all in good condition. In addition, there are about a dozen small 1/2 to 1 inch mercury silvered glass feather tree ornaments hanging from the tree, probably added by the original owner. Again, I could have arranged them better for the photos - I took the pictures with the tree just as it came from storage without any fussing or prettying up. The tree dates to the 1930s, if not earlier, and is still in wonderful condition.

Circa: 1930s
Country of Origin: US
Manufacturer: Unmarked  

Box of 1930s Unopened National Tinsel Mica Flakes Christmas Snow In the days before flocking, mica flakes were dusted onto the limbs of Christmas trees, wreaths, and other decorations to add sparkle and give the illusion of snow. This 3-1/2 ounce box of Christmas Snow dates to the 1930s and has never been opened. The solid red box has a green Christmas tree design with the National Tinsel running deer logo. The graphics are the same on both sides. The text on the box says Fireproof Mica Flakes, National Tinsel Mfg. Co. Manitowoc, Wis. and Brooklyn N.Y.

The cardboard box measures 6" by 5" by 1-1/2" deep. It has never been opened and is still sealed, but the sides have been slightly crushed causing two gaps at the sides below the flaps (see photo). There's been very little if any loss of contents but I've wrapped the box in plastic wrap and sealed it in a ziplock bag to keep the snow from potentially spilling out of the gaps.

Circa: 1930s
Country of Origin: US
Manufacturer: National Tinsel  

Christmas Holly Porcelain 3 Section Divided Serving Dish Christmas Holly was a Mid Century holiday porcelain dinnerware pattern produced by Kashima of Japan. This 3-section serving bowl or relish dish was part of their extensive line of serving pieces. It measures 9-3/4" diameter and is a scalloped oval shape, with embossed corners and the colorful red and green holly with berries design around all three sections. Gold trim around the rim. The back is marked "Christmas Holly Fine Porcelain Japan". In excellent condition with no wear or damage.

Circa: 1960s - 1970s
Country of Origin: JP
Manufacturer: Kashima  

Holt Howard Pink Christmas Feather Angel Porcelain Head A large size feather angel doll for Christmas or any time, made by Holt Howard Japan in the 1950s. She's 7-3/4" tall, with a long gown made of lush bright pink real feathers over a paper cone body. Her arms and scarf are white chenille, her wings are wired glittered tulle, and she has a hand painted porcelain head. She holds a foil paper scrap harp or lyre in one hand.

The classic foil HH Japan label is intact on the underside. The angel is in excellent condition with no damage and no missing or distressed feathers. Her platinum blond hair has some light crazing.


Circa: 1950s
Country of Origin: JP
Manufacturer: Holt Howard  

Johnson Bros Merry Christmas Tree Shaped Dish A festive tree shaped serving dish in the Merry Christmas transferware pattern by Johnson Brothers, made in England. The pattern was reintroduced in 2004 but I don't believe they brought this piece back - in any event, it has the original old mark, not the new one. It measures 8-1/4" by 7-5/8" and is in excellent condition with no damage, crazing, or design wear.

Circa: 1950s
Country of Origin: GB
Manufacturer: Johnson Bros  

1950s Mercury Glass and Lacquered Holly Christmas Corsage Picks, Set 3 Here are three gorgeous 1950s or earlier Christmas corsage picks, each with lacquered holly leaves and clusters of wired mercury glass beads and ornaments. The one in the second picture has a cluster of 12 wired mercury glass beads and 3 lacquered red berries (hard to see in the photo) mounted atop a 5-leaf silver foil star backed by green lacquered leaves. A little over 5" long to the end of the stem by 2-3/4" wide.

Corsage number two (third picture) is a 2-branch decoration. One branch has a cluster of 12 colorful wired mercury glass beads, the second branch has red lacquered berries and green lacquered holly leaves backed by silver foil leaves. About 4-1/2" to the stem tip by 2-3/4" wide.

The last corsage has a center flower made of wired gold mercury beads, surrounded by five 3/4" colored glass Christmas ornaments mounted on green pipe cleaner chenille stems. Two springs of large and small lacquered holly leaves frame the glass ornaments. 4-3/4" high overall by about 3" wide. All three corsages are in very good vintage condition - some cracks or chips to the lacquered leaves, light age wear to the glass beads.

Circa: 1950s
Country of Origin: JP
Manufacturer: Mid Century Japan Import  

Box 3 Japan Beaded Mica Putz Christmas Village Houses This boxed 1950s Japan holiday decoration has not just one but three wonderful Christmas putz village houses or buildings trimmed with glass beads, bottle brush trees, mirrors, and diorama scenes. The sturdy houses are 4-3/4" wide by 3" high, painted in red, blue, and pink and liberally dusted with sparkly silver glitter. Each has a colored mercury glass bead fence and two real glass mirrors at the back walls framed in glass beading, a colored foil star above the mirrors. In the foreground of each house is a green bottle brush Christmas tree decorated with wired glass beads and a mercury glass candle. Hollow celluloid figures stand next to the trees: a white reindeer in the red house, a Santa Claus figure in the blue, and Santa in his sleigh with a reindeer in the pink.

Each house has a foil sticker on the bottom reading "Pat. Hand Made Japan". The houses are in excellent vintage condition with minor age and storage wear - insignificant thinks like silvering loss to the beads and age cloudiness to the mirrors. The pink house has a paint crack to the left hanging eave but it's not broken. The box bottom is intact with no tears but the inner cardboard holder and the box lid are in poor condition with tears, splits, and badly torn cellophane window. The box is marked simply "Christmas Villages, 3 Pcs. Japan" with a stock number.

Circa: 1950s
Country of Origin: JP
Manufacturer: Mid Century Japan Import  

West Germany Pinecone Gnome Elf Christmas Mobile This unusual Mid Century holiday decoration from West Germany is a hanging mobile with five pine cone gnomes on skis. The gnomes or elves are about 3 inches high, each with a different color of felt cap and matching chenille arms. They carry felt and wood picks, hatchets, and axes. The black skis are flocked cardboard, heads and feet are pressed or spun cotton, bodies are real pine cones. The gnomes have cotton beards, painted closed eyes, and red lacquered berry noses.

The center wire bar is about 8-1/2" wide, with the gnomes hanging from smaller bars, the lowest about 16" below the top. The thin nylon hanging line is a bit tangled on one side and I did not have the patience to detangle it for the pictures, but the mobile is very cute when hanging. I had it fixed once, but if there's a way to get them back in the box without tangling the line, I don't know what it is, so the new owner will have to deal with that. The gnomes are in good vintage condition, light wear but no damage. The original box bottom marked West Germany is present but there is no lid.

Circa: 1960s
Country of Origin: DE
Manufacturer: Mid Century West German Import  

Boxed Embroidered Christmas Hankie Handkerchief and Sachet Unused This lovely embroidered cotton Christmas hankie is mint in its original presentation gift box, mounted on printed holly and snowflakes cardstock with a red and silver satin bow. A decorative scented sachet packet is mounted to the card as well. The white lace trimmed handkerchief is decorated with embroidered snowflakes and holly wreaths. A foil label attached to the hankie reads "All Cotton, Exclusive of Decoration, Treasure Masters, Made in Switzerland". The plastic box lid is damaged and cracked and one corner of the red box bottom is split, but the contents inside the box are mint and perfect.

Circa: 1950s
Country of Origin: CH
Manufacturer: Treasure Masters  

Christmas Mercury Glass and Pinecone Cluster Floral Craft Picks in Turquoise and Pink These vintage floral craft pick clusters are made of silvered, colored mercury glass wired together. The two pretty pick clusters have tiny little pinecones among the glass balls. Pink and silver foil grape leaves are attached to the bottoms of the stems. The ornaments are airbrushed or sprayed hot pink so that part of each is colored and part is silver. Each of the two branches is about 14" long and has three sizes of glass ornaments from about 1-1/2" to less than 1" diameter. I count three missing or broken-off ornaments on one branch, two on the other, and there are a few pine cones with crush damage.

The smaller turquoise or aqua blue cluster has ten oval or egg-shaped glass ornaments wired together with silver foil stems. About 9" long overall with no missing ornaments, though the silver foil is loose at some of the ends.

Circa: 1940s - 1950s
Manufacturer: Unmarked  

Pair Western German Red Plastic Christmas Candle Holders With Angels A set of two beautiful Christmas angel candlesticks from Western Germany, made between 1946 and 1951. The 2-7/8" diameter bases are bright cherry red hard plastic. In front of the candle holders are a pair of realistically hand painted angel figures - one with her hands clasped in prayer, the other holding a red candle. The undersides are marked made in Western Germany, Ges. Gesch. (which is a German registered mark similar to American patent notations). The angels have some minor soiling which should come off easily with a little Dawn and a Q-tip, otherwise both candle holders are in excellent vintage condition with no chips or cracks.

Circa: 1946 - 1951
Country of Origin: DE
Manufacturer: Post War West German Import  

Retro Japan Christmas Pixie Elf With Guitar Mint in Sealed Package This charming 1960s poseable Christmas pixie elf is mint and still sealed in its unopened gold foil package. The 6" elf has a plastic vinyl head, red chenille arms and legs, white felt pixie boot shoes, red flocked cap and shirt with green felt scarf. The elf holds a green flocked guitar decorated with gold foil scrap medallions and gold cord strings. The back of the metallic cardboard package header is marked Japan. Two identical pixies are available, price is for each.

Circa: 1960s
Country of Origin: JP
Manufacturer: Mid Century Japan Import  

Lot of Vintage Christmas Bottle Brush Trees and Wreath Eight Mid Century small bottle brush trees for your Christmas putz village displays plus a bottle brush wreath ornament or decoration. The red brush wreath is 3" diameter, decorated with mercury glass beads, a red and silver satin bow, and white snow flocking. A little chained gold bell is attached to the ribbon hanger at the top, removable if you wish.

One brush tree is just 2" high, mounted on a 3" long twisted wire pick. Light green, it has white snow decoration and tiny colored mercury glass bead ornaments at the front only.

There are three green brush trees with green plaster or paint at the branch tips and brown wood bases, unmarked. Each is a different size, 3" to 4" high.

The four trees with red wooden bases are about 4" high. One has a thicker, smaller base with white and glitter snow and is unmarked. The other three are marked Japan and have painted white snow, two with tiny red lacquered berry ornaments. Minor needle crushing from storage on some of these which can easily be fluffed out.

Circa: 1950s
Country of Origin: JP
Manufacturer: Mid Century Japan Imports  

6 Piece Mica Coconut Christmas Putz Village Houses This charming six piece Christmas putz village display was made in Japan in the early 1950s. The houses are made of painted or sanded cardboard with corrugated roofs sprinkled with coconut snow. Each of the four styles of houses have two green snow-covered trees made of some type of natural sponge or air-fern material. The homes have sanded mica-granite walkways, chimneys, and gold and red cellophane doors and windows. The white bases are dusted with fine white mica glitter.

The bases of the buildings are 4-1/4" by 2-1/2" by 2-1/2" to 2-3/4" high. Each has a half-inch hole cut into the back to accommodate a Christmas light string bulb. They are marked Japan on the undersides, all but one still have their 10 cent price tags from Murphy's. Three of the houses have a neat stone or granite exterior finish similar to sandpaper (but way more attractive), the other three are painted turquoise and slate gray with red mottling. All windows and doors are present though three doors have been punched through or are loose - a dab of glue will quickly restore them. This is a great Christmas village set in wonderful condition for its age.

Circa: 1950s
Country of Origin: JP
Manufacturer: Mid Century Japan Import  

Retro Japan Christmas White Pixie Elf With Guitar Mint in Sealed Package This adorable 1960s Christmas pixie elf decoration is mint in its unopened package. The 6" poseable elf has a plastic vinyl head, fluffy white chenille arms and legs, black felt pixie boot shoes, white flocked cap and shirt with green felt scarf. The elf holds a brown flocked guitar decorated with gold foil scrap medallions and gold cord strings. The back of the metallic cardboard package header is marked Japan.

Circa: 1960s
Country of Origin: JP
Manufacturer: Mid Century Japan Import  

Stevens Christmas Holly 66 Inch Round Cotton Tablecloth Mint in Package This late 1960s all cotton Tastemaker by Stevens holiday tablecloth is unused and mint, still sealed in its original package. It has white cotton fringe and is 66" round. The design is red berries and green holly leaves outlined in gold. It's not the same blocks pattern as shown in the paper insert label, the holly pattern is similar but looks like it's round in the center with a ring border. There are two old tape marks on the plastic back and a couple of small punctures to the plastic packaging but no damage or discoloration to the tablecloth inside.

Circa: 1960s
Country of Origin: US
Manufacturer: Stevens  

Vintage Christmas Corsage and Package Decorations Trims Assortment An assortment of vintage 1940s and 1950s Christmas decorations for corsages, floral arrangements, package tie-ons, wreath crafting, or simply by themselves as ornaments. Described in order beginning with photo number 2:

Five wired mercury glass bead spikes, one gold, the rest red. Six to 9 inches long, good condition with only one chipped bead.

Small pinless corsage has a pink tinsel spray surrounded by two green bottle brush trees. Wired mercury glass beads and a plastic mica sugar bell with multi-bead clapper at the base, all backed by a 3 inch silver foil leaf. Very good condition, just needs a pin if used as a corsage.

Little Santa Claus figure with spun cotton head and bottle brush bristly red chenille body, holds a green chenille tree. 3 inches tall, has a small scrap of paper glued to his back where he was removed from a package or box, otherwise good condition.

Mica encrusted plastic sugar bell with silver mercury glass ornament clapper, tied at the top with red and silver satin ribbon bow with mercury bead center. About 2" high overall, excellent condition.

Gold glittered plastic evergreen with 6 petals arranged in star shape, cluster of wired transparent red plastic beads form holly berries in the center. Just over 3" diameter, excellent condition.

Flexible plastic bow decoration heavily coated in red and gold glitter, 2-1/4" wide. Has a hole at the back for a hanger or wire. Very slight glitter loss near the bottom streamers.

Circa: 1940s - 1950s
Manufacturer: 1940s - 50s USA and Japan Imports  

Holly and Bells Vintage 50 by 70 Inch Christmas Tablecloth This festive vintage rectangular Christmas tablecloth is a cotton-linen blend, 50 by 70 inches. The print is brightly colored bells, bows, holly leaves and berries in greens and reds. It looks almost like new, except there are several light yellow stains as shown in the closeup. I have not tried to remove them as I'm no good at it. If not for the spots, I'd assume the tablecloth had not been used as it has no fading and has been starched or sized.

Circa: 1960s
Country of Origin: US