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"

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

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".

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.

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!

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.