10 Vintage Christmas Decorations that Are Actually Pretty Valuable ( courtecy;- reader's digest )

 

    

10 Vintage Christmas Decorations that Are Actually Pretty Valuable

Those decorations you’re unpacking might be collectible. Our antiques expert helps you deck the halls with vintage value.

BY JOE KENZ FROM THE BOOK 10,001 TIMESAVING IDEAS

Ceramic Christmas trees

While originally produced in the 1940s, most ceramic trees sold today date from the 1970s and 1980s. Their popularity has recently surged, increasing their value. Dating vintage ceramic trees can be tricky, as they were often handmade, and the mold date may not be the same as the date the tree was made. Worth: $35-$250 depending on size, color, and condition  Here are some cheap DIY Christmas decorations you can easily make yourself.

Bubble lights

The National Outfit Manufacturers Association began selling branded holiday light sets in 1926. The company was responsible for a number of innovations in its field, and in 1946, introduced the popular bubble light variation. Worth: $75, in original box and in safe working condition

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Constructed of lightweight, inexpensive wood, these clever collectibles often feature snowmen, angels or Santas. Generally just marked “Japan,” they were manufactured after World War II for export to dime and department stores. Worth: $10-$20

Putz houses

Based on a German tradition, these little cardboard houses were often made in Japan and sold in U.S. dime stores from the 1920s through the 1960s. New manufacturers have been inspired by their current popularity, and instructions for creating your own abound online. Value depends on size, condition and complexity. Worth: $5 for simple single houses; $25 and up for the ones pictured

Bottle brush trees

Mass-produced for such dime stores as Kresge and Woolworth, bottle brush trees look great in large, color-sorted groups, as well as in small vignettes or tied to packages. The ones pictured were probably made in Japan during the 1940s and 1950s. Worth: $5-$10 and up, depending on size, condition and detail

Hard plastic candy containers

These fun novelty containers were made by the School House Candy Co., also known as ROSBRO Plastics, in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and were sold by the millions in the 1950s and 1960s. Once the candy was gone, the containers could be reused as ornaments. Worth: $5-$35

Gurley candles

These holiday favorites were manufactured beginning in the late 1930s using excess paraffin produced in the oil refinery process. Designed by candle maker Franklin Gurley and sold as singles or sets, they were actually marketed as small wax figures for display rather than as candles meant to be burned. Worth: $5-$10 and up

Vintage sleds

Samuel L. Allen patented his Flexible Flyer in Cinnaminson, New Jersey, in 1889. “Flexible” applies to both the sled’s steering capabilities, which offered greater control than traditional gooseneck sleds or toboggans, and the fact that riders could use the sleds either seated or lying down. Sales were slow until Allen began marketing the sleds to department store toy buyers. The Flexible Flyer pictured here dates from the 1930s. Worth: From $75 to several hundred dollars

Royal Ruby glassware

This was the first glassware produced by the newly formed Anchor Hocking Glass Co. in 1939. Like the company’s Forest Green line, this glassware remains popular for holiday table settings. Be on the lookout at estate and garage sales for deals, as rare pieces can command more than $50. Worth: $6 for a water tumbler, $17.50 for a 5-piece place setting

Free-blown Italian glass ornaments

The Soffieria De Carlini company has made free-blown glass ornaments since 1947, when a well-known sculptor decided to use his talent to “sculpt” glass figurines, which were then individually hand-painted and fancifully decorated. Worth: $20-$30