Antique Allure
Established 1990
 (215) 322-5868
  • facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • eBay Shop
  • About Us
  • Antiques & Collectibles
  • Antique Blog
  • Contact

Vintage Christmas Decorations

Published on: December 11, 2019

Vintage Christmas decorations are making a comeback

vintage-christmas-decorations

Have you ever wondered about that box of vintage Christmas decorations hanging out in your attic? From wooden nutcrackers to glass ornaments to Lionel model trains, you should be able to identify what hidden treasures, whether vintage or antique are hanging out in your attic. Your cherished decorations might be valuable but, even if they aren’t, you can decorate your home with them and enjoy just as they were in the past. Vintage Christmas decorations are very much in style these days.

Christmas trees

Decorating the tree, like many modern Christmas traditions, was originally a German idea. Nuts, fruits, and candles were the most common decorations and some families would later take the tree outside to share the edible ornaments with the animals. Americans started decorating trees in the early 1800s, often covering them in garlands of popcorn. During the late 1800s, Christmas decorations became more elaborate, featuring elegant ornaments, baubles, and garlands. In the 1950s Americans became enamored with aluminum trees, which were made in silver, pink and even purple. Today these aluminum trees, especially the rarer colors, are highly collectible.

Ornaments

German craftsmen began producing images of fruits, hearts, stars, and angels in glass in the mid-1800s and they became incredibly popular. By the 1880s American businessman F.W. Woolworth had begun importing these German glass and metal treasures to his five and dime stores all around the country. Their popularity soared. If you have some of these ornaments still intact, consider yourself lucky.

Vintage department store Christmas items

By the 1930s, Christmas became big business and children eagerly awaited the arrival of Christmas toy catalogs from Sears and Montgomery Ward. Department stores set up huge Christmas trees, a place for kids to meet Santa and window displays of their toys. All the items of this era, the toys, the advertising and even the catalogs, today are highly collectible and sought after.

Antique and vintage Christmas tree lights

Although candles had long been used to illuminate Christmas trees, by 1882 one of Thomas Edison’s assistants decided to try the new electric lights for that purpose. The safety Christmas bulb was invented in 1917 and sold to the public in strings.

Vintage Santa figurines and Christmas advertising

The story of Santa Claus goes back to fourth century Myra (now Turkey), where old Bishop Nicholas became a patron for children and the poor. Dutch immigrants brought the lore of Saint Nick to America and through the mispronunciation of “Sinterklass” (St. Nicholas), Santa Claus was born. Santa’s likeness adorns many Christmas antiques and collectibles from toys to vintage tree ornaments to centerpieces and tiny figurines.

Whether you consider them antique, vintage or just fun to remember holidays past, hang on to those decorations and hand me downs in that box in the attic, not to mention the new Christmas items you pick up this year. You never know what might become a valuable antique 30 years from now!

Check out Antique Allure for some fun Christmas décor!

Phone: (215) 322-5868

Email:

Search

Business Hours

Business hours on Wednesday
11 - 5
[Show working hours]
Day Open Close
Monday Closed
Tuesday Closed
Wednesday 11 5
Thursday 11 5
Friday 11 5
Saturday 11 6
Sunday 11 4

Antique Allure Store

  • Antique & Vintage Furniture
  • Antique & Vintage Advertising Metal & Porcelain Signs
  • Black Memoribila
  • Candy Boxes & Signs
  • Coke & Pepsi Collectibles
  • Oil & Gas Advertising Cans, Bottles & other Petroliana
  • Primitives
  • Soda & Dairy Bottles & Signs
  • Toys (including pressed metal trucks)
  • Vintage Health & Beauty Aids
  • Vintage Nautical
  • Wooden Advertising Crates
  • Antique Tools
  • Model Trains and Accessories
  • Fiesta
  • Railroad Lanterns & Signs
  • Tobacco Ads

Antique Allure Store

614 Second Street Pike (Route 232) Southampton, PA, 18966

Terms & Conditions | Privacy | Contact

Copyright © 1990 - 2023. All Rights Reserved.

Designed by WebAuthorings.

We use cookies to offer you a better browsing experience, analyze site traffic, personalize content, and serve targeted advertisements. Read about how we use cookies and how you can control them by clicking "Privacy Preferences". If you continue to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies.

Privacy Preference Center

Consent Management

Read about how we use cookies and how you can control them by clicking "Privacy Preferences".

Privacy Policy

You read and agreed to our Privacy Policy.

Terms & Conditions

You read and agreed to our Terms & Conditions.

How we use cookies

Cookies are little pieces of code that make pages load quicker or remember things like products in a shopping cart.

Cookies Used

PHPSESSID,__cfduid,__hstc,__qca,_ga,_gid,gdprprivacy_bar,gdpr[allowed_cookies],gdpr[consent_types],hubspotutk,mp_a36067b00a263cce0299cfd960e26ecf_mixpanel,wordpress_logged_in_08a6dec7cf92b5f12b1582dca149f9ac,,wordpress_sec_08a6dec7cf92b5f12b1582dca149f9ac,,wordpress_test_cookie,wp-settings-1,wp-settings-time-1

cloudflare.com

Opt Out
__cfduid,

google.com

Opt Out
_ga,_gid