Box 1928 Noma Dresden Glass Christmas Light Covers This very rare box of eight Dresden figural Christmas light covers was a collaboration between the Noma Company, which obtained the patent in 1927, and a German inventor. The sockets and light bulbs were produced by Noma, the large blown glass covers were made in Germany. The box would have originally held a C-6 light string for the bulbs which is no longer present. All eight lights are here though, in their original cardboard holders marked Germany. The shapes are a cat, bunch of grapes, girls' head, pink rosebud, two dogs, and two red flowers.

Four of the lights are definitely still working: the rosebud, the grapes, and the two dogs (the rosebud needs to be jiggled slightly as the interior bulb is a bit loose). The others will theoretically work if you can get the tops off to change the C6 light bulbs - they are loose on all the non-working lights. Unfortunately the previous owner applied white plaster between the rims of five of the glass covers and the metal socket caps to secure them. There doesn't appear to be any plaster on the girl's head, grapes, or rosebud. Perhaps with patience, vinegar, and cotton swabs the plaster can be dissolved enough to get the caps off.

There is some chipping to the rims of several covers below the socket caps: one dog, one red flower, and a noticeable larger chip to the side of the cat's head. I have closeup pictures of all the damaged areas. Space does not permit me to post them here but I'm happy to email you the additional photos. There is also flaking paint to varying degrees on all of the covers - paint loss is considerable to the back of the cat. It's virtually impossible to find Dresden light covers that do not have paint loss. My various antique Christmas books value individual Dresden light covers in these shapes between $60 at the low end up to $250 each. I do not know the book value for a box of eight as they are so rarely on the market. Shipping includes insurance and signature confirmation.

Circa: 1928
Country of Origin: US
Manufacturer: Noma  

Poor Poochie Dog With Toothache Figural Christmas Light Bulb This very hard to find figural milk glass Christmas light bulb is called Poor Poochie. It's a dog with a bandage wrapped around the side of his head, presumably due to a toothache. This is a large C6 type bulb, 3-7/8" high. It's painted in shades of red with a black collar. The paint is in pretty good condition with less-than typical wear. The bandage covers one eye, the other is all white - whether that is intentional or due to wear I don't know, but it looks to have been painted that way. The bulb does not light and has been converted to a tree ornament with a wire hanger wrapped around the socket threads. Marked SK 14 V Japan.

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

2 Bell With Santa Faces Figural Milk Glass Christmas Light Bulb Two vintage 14 volt Japan C-6 type bell shape figural milk glass Christmas tree light bulbs. They're decorated with raised Santa Claus faces on two sides, with hand painted holly and berries between the Santas. The bulbs are 2-2-5/8" high with every good paint and little wear. They do not light but make nice tree ornaments when a cord or wire hanger is wrapped around the threads.

Circa: 1930s - 1950s
Country of Origin: JP
Manufacturer: Pre or Post War Japan Import  

3 Sided Santa Face Figural Christmas Light Bulb, Works, Rare This old miniature C-6 figural Christmas light bulb is quite rare. It's a 3-sided Santa Claus face elongated diamond shape, just 2-1/4 inches high and made of clear painted glass rather than the usual more modern milk glass of the 1940s and 1950s. The bulb is marked 15 V Japan around the neck. Best of all, it still works, lighting up just fine.

Circa: 1920s
Country of Origin: JP
Manufacturer: Pre War Japan Import  

Early German Horn Blower Lady Figural Christmas Light Bulb A very scarce pre-1920 clear glass figural Christmas light bulb from Germany. It's identified in one of my books as a "Hornblower". My Christmas Lighting book doesn't even list this bulb. It's a little less than 3-1/4" high and looks like a girl or woman blowing a horn to me, wearing a long flowing robe with wide flared choir-robe type sleeves and a yellow-banded cloche style cap. There is a straight yellow ruffle at the neck, similar to a clown ruffle, though nothing else about her suggests she's a clown.

The bulb is clearly marked Germany at the metal base. It does not light up. There's a little paint wear as you can see, though it's less than you'd expect for this type and age of light bulb.

Circa: 1915
Country of Origin: DE
Manufacturer: Pre War German Import  

Rooster Playing Golf Figural Milk Glass Christmas Light Bulb This unusual vintage Japan milk glass figural Christmas light bulb is described in one of my books as "Rooster Playing Golf". It's hard to see in my photos, but he does have a golf club clutched under one arm, and is wearing blue pants and red striped socks. The C-6 type bulb is a little over 3" high and marked 15V Japan. It does not light but of course can easily be made into a tree ornament with a wire or string hanger tied around the upper threads.

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

Paramount Tree Top Star Christmas Topper Light This late 1940s hard plastic Christmas lighted tree top star is model number 735, the smaller of two sizes made by Paramount. Measuring 5-1/2 inches wide, the white dimensional 5-point star is outlined in transparent red, giving a nice halo-like glow when lit. A hole at the top point allows you to hang the star from your window. The star lights up fine and has no chips or cracks. The tubular C-7 size light bulb pulls out for easy replacement. This model didn't come with a cord, it's designed to insert into a standard Christmas tree light string.

Circa: 1948
Country of Origin: US
Manufacturer: Paramount  

Baby Chick in Egg 1920s Figural Glass Christmas Light Bulb This scarce old C-6 type figural glass Christmas light bulb is a pinkish-beige chick hatching out of an egg, 2-3/4 inches high. It's made of painted clear glass and dates to the 1920s before the switch was made to using milk glass in an effort to get the paint to better adhere (milk glass didn't work any better than clear).

The bulb does not light but of course makes an excellent antique tree ornament when a cord or wire is wrapped around the socket threads. There is some paint loss as shown but most of the finish still remains including the little red eyes and beak. Marked 15 V, no indication as to whether it was made in Japan or Germany.

Circa: 1920s
Country of Origin: JP
Manufacturer: Pre War Japan Import  

Santa With Toys C-7 Figural Christmas Light Bulb, Working This 1950s Japan figural milk glass Christmas light bulb is a Santa Claus with Christmas tree and toys: drum, horn or bat, and a doll. It's 4-1/2 inches high and has the larger C7 base size - it will fit in most standard Christmas light strings. The paint is in very good condition other than some wear to the black boots paint. The bulb works fine and lights up brightly.

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

3 Working Figural Christmas Milk Glass Light Bulbs Santas Cottage These figural milk glass Christmas light bulbs were produced in Japan from the 1930s to 1950s. One is a six-sided snow covered cottage, one is a fat Santa Claus, the third bulb is a double-face Santa head. All three light up brightly. They're 2-1/4 to 2-1/2 inches high, all are marked 15 V (volt) Japan. The Santa bulbs have some paint wear as shown.

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

Standing Angel 1925 Figural Glass Christmas Light Bulb, Working This clear glass figural Christmas light bulb is a standing angel, made in Japan about 1925 before they switched to using milk glass instead of clear glass for their bulbs (it was erroneously thought that milk glass would hold the paint better).

The bulb is a little over 3 inches tall. The angel has long gold hair, a long draped blue and white gown, a pink banner across her chest, and long white folded wings. The paint is in remarkably good condition for this type and age of light bulb, a little normal wear at the high pints but overall mostly intact. The bulb does light up.

Circa: 1925
Country of Origin: JP
Manufacturer: Pre War Japan Import  

Austrian 1930s Standard Base Red Rose Figural Light Bulb Working This attractive red rosebud or rose figural light bulb was made in Austria in the 1930s. It's about 3-1/4 inches high, realistically painted darker red toward the base, lighter at the top with green leaves near the threads. It has a one-inch standard size or Edison style base, just like modern light bulbs.It works fine as you can see, and would look great in an Art Nouveau style table lamp, wall sconce, or antique light fixture. Though they were not made as Christmas lights, one of these bulbs is shown in Robert Brenner's Christmas Revisited book in the Christmas figural light bulbs section. Marked 115 V, 12 CP, M46B, Austria.

Circa: 1930
Country of Origin: AT
Manufacturer: Pre War Austrian Import  

Father Christmas Santa Figural Light Bulb, Works, Unusual Paint This 1920s to early 1930s Japan figural milk glass Christmas light bulb is a Father Christmas type Santa Claus with unusual painted plaid lines on his hat and lower robe. The back of his head is marked XL-Pat. Santa has a long beard and a big green toy sack slung over his shoulder, his paint is very good considering the age of the bulb. Best of all, it still works, lighting up brightly as you can see in the last photo. I haven't seen this style Santa bulb before and did not find it in my books.

Circa: 1920s
Country of Origin: JP
Manufacturer: Pre War Japan Import  

2 Double Sided Santa Claus Figural Christmas Milk Glass Light Bulbs These 3 inch Japan 15 Volt figural milk glass Christmas light bulbs depict a Father Christmas style Santa Claus carrying a staff or walking stick with a toy sack slung over one shoulder. They're double sided, the same image in reverse on the opposite side. There is some typical paint loss as shown, not too bad. The bulb on the left lights up fine. The one on the right no longer lights but of course will make an excellent tree ornament by wrapping a wire hanger or cord around the threaded neck.

Circa: 1930s - 1950s
Country of Origin: JP
Manufacturer: Pre or Post War Japan Import  

Fruit Basket Large Figural Milk Glass Christmas Light Bulb Working An extra large C-6 type figural milk glass Christmas tree lightbulb circa 1930s, in the shape of a basket of fruit. You can see apples, bananas, grapes, oranges, berries, and peaches in the basket, plus a cluster of green leaves at the top. The bulb is 3-1/4" high by nearly 3 inches wide. There's a little paint wear as shown, the bulb lights up fine.

Circa: 1930s
Country of Origin: JP
Manufacturer: Pre War Japan Import  

Parakeet and Oriental Lantern C7 Figural Christmas Light Bulbs Milk Glass A pair of 1950s Japan figural Christmas milk glass light bulb in the larger C-7 size. The yellow canary or parakeet bird is nearly 4 inches long. The ribbed Oriental style lantern is 2-3/4" long, decorated with red iris type flowers and green leaves. Both have some typical paint wear as shown. They do not light but easily convert to ornaments with wire or cords wrapped around the threads.

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

Frog and Sitting Bulldog Clear Glass Christmas Light Bulbs Two figural Japan clear glass Christmas animal light bulbs. The 3 inch green and white frog is from the 1950s and has good paint with only mild wear.

The sitting dog or bulldog was made in the early 1920s before the Japanese switched to using milk glass for their bulbs, 2-3/4" high. The orange-brown paint has some wear, mostly at one side and the back of the head. The bulbs do not light but the dog has been converted to a tree ornament with cloth-covered wire tied around the threads.

Circa: 1920s
Country of Origin: JP
Manufacturer: Pre War Japan Import  

4 Milk Glass Santa, Cottage Figural Christmas Light Bulbs Working Four working figural milk glass Christmas light bulbs, made in 1930s to 1950s Japan. Two are double sided Santa Claus faces, the other two are red brick hexagonal snow covered cottages. The bulbs are C-6 size with the smaller, older style bases. There is minimal paint loss and they all light up brightly.

Circa: 1930s - 1950s
Country of Origin: JP
Manufacturer: Pre War Japan Import  

Large Oval Father Christmas Santa Figural Milk Glass Light Bulb, Working An unusual old figural milk glass Christmas tree light bulb with an oval shape and cameo style Father Christmas-type Santa on each side, framed by pine boughs and holly berries. The bulb is a larger one, 3-1/2" high by 2-1/4" wide. The paint is typical light wear, most is gone from the eyes. The bulb still lights up as shown. The neck is marked 14 V Japan.

Circa: 1950
Country of Origin: JP
Manufacturer: Post War Japan Import  

Pear, Lantern, Flame Working Figural Christmas Light Bulbs Three small vintage figural Christmas C6 type light bulbs, all work well and light up brightly. The pear is milk glass, 2 inches high and painted red and yellow. Some wear to the red paint. Next is a 2 inch lantern in hexagonal hourglass shape with horizontal ribbing, painted in shaded bands of red, pin, green and yellow. This bulb is clear glass. The third bulb is somewhat flame shaped, possibly a flower bud with the textured leaf forms embossed in the glass. It's marked XL-PAT below the neck and is orange and yellow over clear glass. A little longer than the other two, maybe 2-1/4".

Circa: 1920s
Country of Origin: JP
Manufacturer: Pre War Japan Import  

2 Embossed Star Balls Figural Milk Glass Christmas Light Bulbs A pair of embossed star-covered ball figural milk glass Christmas light bulbs in two different colors and sizes. The smaller one is 2" tall, red with white stars and does not light. It's been converted to a tree ornament with a string hanging cord tied around the threads. The large ball is shaded light green and yellow with white stars, 2-1/2" high, and it does light up. Though they have different threaded sockets on top, both are marked 14 V Japan and will fit a C-6 type light string.

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

Pine Cone, Rose Buds 1920s Figural Christmas Light Bulbs Working These three figural clear glass Christmas light bulbs were made in Japan in the early 1920s. The two rosebuds are the same shape, 2 inches long, but painted differently. The pink and yellow rose has less wear to the paint than the red with green leaves rose.

The third bulb is unusual and quite scarce. It's more of a pinecone shape and has metallic glittered paint in copper or bronze and dark silver-gray. All three bulbs light up though the output is a little dim (the last picture shows them lighted but it wasn't dark enough for the light to show up well).

Circa: 1920s
Country of Origin: JP
Manufacturer: Pre War Japan Import  

Pink Rose Milk Glass Figural Christmas Light Bulb Works A very attractive 1950s figural milk glass Christmas light bulb in the form of a bright pink rose or flower blossom with four painted leaves at the top. It's 2-3/8" high, marked at the neck 16 V Made In Japan. The paint is in very good condition with almost no wear and it lights up just fine.

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

Parrot Figural Milk Glass Christmas Light Bulb, Working I believe this 15 volt Japan figural milk glass Christmas tree bird light bulb is a parrot. The colors are golden yellow at the wings and tail feathers, pink with a touch of orange at the head and neck, with black eyes and beak. The 3-3/8" long bulb lights up well and has little paint loss.

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