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
 

Spartus Christmas Tree Color Wheel in Box If you're lucky enough to have a vintage aluminum Christmas tree, you need a color wheel spotlight to illuminate it, rather than risk electrical shock with traditional Christmas lights. This Spartus rotating color wheel is in excellent working condition and comes complete in its original box (you will need to add the light bulb however). It can rest on the floor or be mounted on the ceiling or wall.

Neither the adjustable lamp unit nor the color disc have any damage. The box is in great shape with the inner protective cardboard panels for the wheel intact. The assembly instruction sheet is included in the box. Most of the color wheels I've seen and sold over the years have somewhat noisy motors, but this one works perfectly in near perfect silence - no rattling or humming at all.

Circa: 1950s - 1960s
Country of Origin: US
Manufacturer: Spartus  

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  

Sealed Package Shiny Brite Chenille Clay Face Santa Angel Figures This 1950s package of Shiny Brite chenille Christmas package ties has never been opened and is an amazing find. Inside are at least 12 chenille figures and decorations, four of them clay face Santa Claus figures. Two of the Santa faces are on red and white chenille stars with mercury glass beads at the points, hand painted molded clay faces (each different), and real cotton beards. There are two other chenille Santas with red chenille bodies, arms, and legs, pointy chenille caps, and cotton beards. They hold green chenille trees in one hand and are just over 3" tall.

I can also see two chenille candy canes with foil holly leaves in the bag, a pair of little chenille pixie elves with spun cotton faces and mercury glass bead feet, two white brushy chenille snowmen with top hats and spun cotton heads holding chenille candy canes, and two chenille angels in pink and blue holding candles. It looks like most of the figures have pipe cleaner chenille stems at the back for attaching to tree limbs, gift packages, or wherever you wish. The cardboard package header says "Christmas Package Ties, A Shiny-Brite Product, Japan". The figures are in perfect, mint condition inside the never-opened package.

Circa: 1950s
Country of Origin: JP
Manufacturer: Shiny Brite  

Choir Boy 1950s Christmas Figurine I think this sweet little ceramic figurine is a choir boy - although he looks very angelic, he has no wings or halo. About 4" high with 2-tone dark blond hair, his hands are clasped and eyes closed perhaps in prayer. He has gold shoes, a red ribbon tie at his neck, and wears a long white robe with gold stars. There are a few small, stray gold paint specks on his robe under the glaze, otherwise in very good condition with no damage. Remains of a silver foil label on the underside are unreadable, but no doubt made in Japan in the 1950s to early 1960s.

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

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  

Nativity Scene Child's Christmas Revolving Music Box Figurine This charming little music box features a Nativity scene of Mary, Joseph, a lamb and Baby Jesus as portrayed by children. It stands 6-1/2" high by 4-1/2" diameter at the base. The figures revolve to the tune Oh Little Town of Bethlehem when the music box is wound up. It's made of lightweight plaster or hollow chalkware, handpainted and glazed. The little foil label on the underside is impossible to see in my photo due to its location - it reads "Hand Made In Japan" around the initials MY in a circle. In excellent condition with no damage.

Circa: 1960
Country of Origin: JP
Manufacturer: MY  

1960s Sealed Package 20 Christmas Gift Card Tags With Figures Inside Inside this still sealed, never used package of 1960s Japan Christmas decorations are 20 little 2 inch high package tie-on gift cards, each with a greeting and dimensional scene or figure inside. Some of the gift tags are decorated with metallic tinsel and foil wreaths, trees, presents, stockings, and bows. About half have little figures inside - snowmen, Santas, clowns, elves, and angels with spun cotton heads, trimmed with wired garland, chenille, or feathers. Each tag has a little gold cord hanger so you can use them as ornaments if you like.

The package is unopened and sealed, though there is a tear in the center of the cardboard foil header and a .75 price written on the front. The little gift cards inside are in perfect, mint condition.
Circa: 1960s
Country of Origin: JP
Manufacturer: Mid Century Japan Import  

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  

Inarco Christmas Holly Pixie Elf Ceramic Figurine This charming pottery pixie elf was made in 1950s Japan by Inarco. He sits hugging his knees atop a pedestal wreath of plastic holly and berries. The company made a couple of different versions of this figurine. This is the larger, harder to find version with the square pedestal base instead of round.

About 6-1/2" high, entirely glazed except for his bisque face, it's in excellent condition with no damage. There is a tiny pinpoint "beauty mark" on the elf's cheek, a speck of stray paint. Marked E-2530 on the underside, his foil Inarco Japan label has been removed.

Circa: 1950s - 1960s
Country of Origin: JP
Manufacturer: Inarco  

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 horn 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  

Box 1950s Shiny Brite Christmas Pinecone Chenille Gnomes Elves in Mesh Swings This is a scarce boxed set of four 1950s Shiny Brite pine cone gnomes, elves or dwarfs. About 3-3/4" high, each elf is sitting in a wired metallic foil mesh swing Christmas ornament. The mesh swings have a gold foil hanger but they can stand upright as well. The gnomes have hand painted hard plastic faces, chenille arms and legs, spun cotton feet, and flocked paper caps. Each sits on a little snow flocked pinecone and each holds a musical instrument or songbook made of chenille or foil scrap.

The elves are in excellent, like-new condition with no signs of damage or wear. The cardboard box says "A Shiny-Brite Product" and "Christmas Novelty Ornament and Decoration, No. 8683 4 Pcs Japan". The box has tears to the cellophane windows but is otherwise in good condition.

Circa: 1950s
Country of Origin: JP
Manufacturer: Shiny Brite  

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  

1940s Christmas Angel Net Dress, Composition Face, Mohair Wig - Treetop or Ornament This lovely old Christmas angel doll figures is 7-1/2" wide, about 6" high, and can be hung on the Christmas tree as an ornament or used as a tree top angel. Her dress is stiff nylon netting with satin lining, decorated with gold foil stars and a gold metallic ribbon sash. The angel's wings are heavy gold foiled paper outlined in thick, furry white chenille. Her head is a composition or clay-like material, with hand painted facial features and mohair blonde hair.

The dresse is a bit dingy but not dirty or stained, though the chenille on the wings does have some yellowing. I see no other problems, just typical signs of age and use common to any 60-plus year old Christmas decoration. There are no labels or markings but I doubt she's any more recent than the post-war 1940s. Two are shown in the photos but only the white dress angel remains - the pink one has been sold.

Circa: 1940s
Manufacturer: Unlabeled  

Napco Christmas Caroling Girl Salt and Pepper Shakers A set of figural ceramic Christmas salt and pepper shakers made by Napco in the 1950s. The girls are dressed as carolers in hooded long red capes with white "fur" trim. Each holds a songbook in one hand with the other mittened hand extended, and they have O shaped singing mouths. About 4" high with cork stoppers intact, in very good condition with no damage, very little wear to the paint. Each has the original silver foil Napco Ceramics Japan label on the underside.

Circa: 1950
Country of Origin: JP
Manufacturer: Napco  

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  

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