Loved seeing your set. We had a different manger, but the exact figurines. They are very ostalgic to me. The manger we had played music, but being the 7th kid it was broken by the time I came. If you wound it and let it unwind slowly while appplying some pressure you could make out Silent Night.

I have many old tinsel and scrap ornaments. I believe they usually come from Germany. I'm linking a picture off ebay. I also have some old mercury glass and shiny brights such as glass balls, double indents, etc.

Here is a link that might be useful: tinsel and scrap

I love vintage Christmas pieces! Many of the Christmas books on this bookcase are 75-100 years old. I bought the doll off Goodwill's Ebay-like site a number of years ago. I have no idea how old she is or where she's from, but she's old and I'm thinking she's probably from Eastern Europe. She's hollow under her skirts, like many Christmas angels made to top trees are, but there is no evidence that she ever had angel wings. Any ideas?

I also have a number of very old tree ornaments that I inherited from my grandmother. I don't have my tree up yet, so no pics.

I love your creche, EG3d! How wonderful to have that history passed down to you. I love mine, but it's only about 30 years old. I bought it when we were first married, and am planning on passing it along to one of our kids someday:

Thanks for starting such an interesting thread. I'm looking forward to more pics.
Lynn

I do three trees that are all vintage (50's and earlier...some victorian) ornaments. The colors on a flocked tree are amazingly gorgeous.

I don't know how many ornaments I have but it's in the 1000s at this point, all purchased for a song at garage sales and shop good will online. Lovely things that someone's grandmother used likely and they didn't want :( I feel great giving them a home!

I also have two trees in my son's rooms (play room and his bedroom) that I have all of the horrifically ugly 60's and 70's ornaments that I used to give my mother for christmas on. Pipe cleaner elves, little styrofoam figures, plastic "glass" balls with scenes inside, and the tacky silk decorated balls my grandmother used to make. I have a sentimental attachment to the stupid things and oddly enough, when my 7 year old decorates his trees, they look very nostalgic and sweet.

I have recently developed an affinity for the porcelain santa cups and planters that you used to see in the 60's everywhere. I keep picking them up at the goodwill and in a couple of years I might be able to do a mantle in them (or is that mantel?) LOL I think it's me turning 50 that's making these all of a sudden pretty to me heh heh

My poor son is going to inherit far more ornaments than he'd like I would imagine. I hope his future wife or wives (he's picked out two so far) will put them up and not donate them to the good will LOL

what a fun topic!
I have a Snow White and Seven Dwarfs set from the 1940's. They are glittery figures about 4-6" tall and can be hung from the tree or set on a table.

I don't have any, but I love the small ceramic elves from the 50's- does anyone remember those?

I like movement on a tree and have always had bubble lights and blinkers. In the 1950s, my aunt had Twinklers. You have to use the screw-in bulbs and hang them over them so the heat causes the little metal propellers to spin inside. Here's a photo of one (not my photo). I've collected a few of them at antique stores and Ebay. There's pink, yellow, and aqua. A few years ago they made reproductions in jewel-toned colors.

May, does the twinkler twinkle? What does the fan do? Or is it just that it moves (so you get movement?)

I picked up several strings of bubble lights last year from goodwill and I must say that they add a fun touch to a tree! But those twinklers look so fun!!!

Oh what memories that brings to mind! I have the bubble lights my grandparents used for many, many years on their trees. However, they are no longer safe to use. I can't bring myself to throw them out!!

tina

OMG, do your remember the old silver Christmas trees and the color wheels to shine on them? We actually had one for a year when I was a kid. Everyone hated it so Mom threw it out after Christmas that year. Someone driving by pulled it out of the trash before the truck arrived, though. I wonder if anyone here has one they put up?
Lynn

I have a few things, I have these white trees set up in a guest bedroom which is decorated shabby/girly/vintagey.

Some old ornaments in a vase.

Bumblebeez, that blue ornament with the moon and stars is "my" ornament! We each had our own special ornament we hung on the tree. It gets a special place on my tree.

Iglochic, the Twinklers are silver on the bottom of the propeller and a color on top, so you see the flash (twinkle) of the color and the reflection of whatever color bulb you put it over. They can go for a pretty penny on Ebay, especially the whole set of four. But search on other related terms like "spins" and you may find some. Sometimes they'll be in a lot of old ornaments from the 50s.

I love mercury glass beads and ornaments! I have some from family members, yard sales, thrift stores, and ebay--enough for a small (5') tree. I've always thought that if I had to choose only one Christmas decoration to take with me into exile, it would be a vintage pop-up paper creche, made in Czechoslovakia before the Soviet Bloc. I'm a child of the 50s-60s-70s, when the Iron Curtain was on the news every night (or so it seemed). The creche was a gift from my mother, which makes it even more special.

(Edited to add: Oops! After posting my original comment, I became curious about my creche. I looked online and found that the designer was V.Kubasta, who wasn't making pop-ups until the 1960's, a time when I'd assumed that no religious icons were being exported from Communist countries. I think I learned that in HS, but not sure. Not sure, either, why I thought the creche was from the 1930s; maybe I saw a similar item in a book or magazine. Anyway, thank you, EG3d, for this thread--today you helped me learn something new, and helped me relearn something I thought I knew.)

This post was edited by mama_goose on Fri, Nov 30, 12 at 11:13

I have a small collection of plastic toys and blown glass pine cones that were on my father's Christmas tree (he was born in 1915). I have collected a small group of German blown glass bunches of grapes that I put in a silver bowl.

And my creche is a lovely little mash-up of figures that were collected one by one while I was growing up...the central figures are plaster, including a resting donkey, a collie, and a few sheep; some are plastic, and two are hollow, and made of rubber. The Baby Jesus is one of those little pink plastic babies, onto whom I put an adhesive tape diaper when I was about eight, and it's completely cheesy but what can I do!

The stable was always made by me, and improved as my skills improved...starting with thin cardboard and crayons, and ending with one I made when I learned to make models in design school...

Our neighbor is a world-class collector of antique Christmas decorations. His home is unbelievable this time of year. Breathtaking. We have several things that he's given us over the years--including all of our outside lights (the old inside-paint C9s). Gosh they're beautiful and waaaay better than the new LEDs. LOL

I'm spoiled. Totally spoiled now. LOL. I'd love to have a matchless star tree and some old oil bubble lights....

I am always so impressed with the patience of all of you who decorate so well and thoroughly at this time of year. I can't imagine more than one tree, but I do know one woman who does six to handle her collections of ornaments.

Just thinking about it makes me want to go lie down!

Timam61, I'm curious why you think those bubble lights are not safe to use? I have some from the 50's and while the light string was shot, the bubble lights fit in any standard C7 light string. I bought one at the store and they work find now. You might want to consider it.
lynninnewmexico, since I'm in NJ, it wasn't me pulling the tree out of the trash, but I do put one up with my color wheel. I HATED it as a kid, but love it now. My son REALLY hates it but since he'll be away for Christmas, it's all for me now. I'll post pics when it's up.

I like the ornaments in the glass vase! We have a vase that we fill with wine corks, and I think I'll empty them and put in some of the ornaments since we have so many.

I have a green large ceramic Christmas tree at my office.

This is a vintage elf ladder like DH had as a child. His fell apart, but MIL found one exactly like it on ebay last year. We don't plug it in because of age, but it's really pretty awesome. Sorry the pic is blurry. I will try to get a better one this year.

I have ornaments and decorations that belonged to my great aunt who would be 135 if she were living.

I have a few shiny brite glass balls and the box they came in, which is crumbling.

My most treasured decorations are two spinning christmas tree lamps. The trees are paper cones and the stand has a long sharp spindle to balance the tree over a light bulb. The heat from the bulb makes then spin. Mine are similar to the link below but mine have pictures of old=fashioned ice skaters on the bottom edge so it look like they are skating around. My aunt put them on a mirror with puffy white stuff that looked like fiberglass at the edge of the mirror. It made them look like they were skating on a frozen lake surrounded by snow. I loved going to her house and watching the skaters go round and round.

I also have all the funny ornaments that my kids made and I still put them up. My tree is quite home-y, not the beautiful sophisticated ones I see so often.

Here is a link that might be useful: Motion tree light

Jaysmom - I meant my strand(s) is not safe to use. The last time I plugged one strand in - it smelled - an electrical burn smell. Mine are very old. Like before me and I'm 50! LOL I didn't mean bubble lights in general. I'll have to look at mine and see if the string could be changed.

tina

I also should add the MCM Drexel Counterpoint endtables with vintage decorations.

Tinam61, C7 lights were very standard in the 40's & 50's. Older than you and you're 50 (and still breathing?-LOL).
I'm over 60 and mine are from when I was a kid.
Seriously, post a picture of the strand. I can probably tell from the look what size they are (yes, I'm that nuts).
I'm here.

lynninnewmexico--look on ebay for '6' pom pom aluminum tree', and try adding 'slimline' or 'tru taper' -- see what your mom threw out : )

We *will* be putting ours up this weekend, I hope, so I'll take photos. The only thing is that my tastes in ornaments have run mostly in the past to the European glass or little angels with big gowns on towing trains kind of thing because that's what I grew up with, so I'm not sure they'll work on the Evergleam -- we'll see what happens...

We inherited a string of lights from my hubby's grandma. Each light was a different figure: a bird, a large rosebud,a chinese lantern, A big oval with a Santa in relief, etc. The string blew a fuse the first time we plugged it in, but I kept the individual lights and use them on the treeas ornaments. They are painted and a lot of the paint has worn off, so I am trying to decide whether to paint them or leave them all chippped.

Lynn, the silver retro Christmas trees are all the rage on RetroRenovation.

We never had one growing up, but I've always loved them. We get a fresh tree every year. They are grown here, so very inexpensive to get a nice frasier fir.

Here is a link that might be useful: RetroRenovation & vintage trees.

I have totes and totes and totes filled with old Shiny Brites and German glass. Mercury glass bead garlands, angels with spun fiberglass hair and wings, and TWO aluminum trees.

And then we got kittens. FIVE kittens.

When we had older cats, they couldn't care less about the tree and decs, but now it's all a giant cat toy. *sigh* So, now we have a cheap artificial tree and plastic shatterproof ornaments.

This has been good and bad. While I love all of my old stuff, and it has so much more meaning, my holiday decor is much more streamlined. A wreath on the door, and a simple tree, and that's it. It can all be put up and taken down in a couple of hours. I have one Rubbermaid tub, and when I undecorate the tree, I just take the ornaments off and literally toss them in the tote. No wrapping in tissue paper and cotton batting, and TLC or any of that.

I'm torn with what to do with the old stuff. I kind of want to hang on to one of the tinsel trees and enough old glass to decorate it, and toss the rest. Oh, except for the mercury glass garlands. And the angels. And the Japan Santa mugs. And the felt elves. Oh, and the German glass, too. LOL!

Nothing like the old stuff.... Some of my neighbor's collection:

I have another friend who collects Hallmark and Radko items as well. Neither one of them could afford their collections at this point if they had to do it over.

Yes, count me in on those who love vintage xmas ornaments and decorations. I've collected for years. Now days it's not as easy to find things from the 40' and 50's at thrift stores or sale barns like I used to. If you find them at antique shops they can be expensive, but I still manage to find pretty ones for the tree for $3 - $10ea. Then last year I discovered Etsy! Oh my. Haven't really bought anything from them yet but I drool over their pages of vintage holiday decorations. Sometimes recognize things I have in my collection.

bump

I have the same Nativity EG3d posted but the 12" version. I inherited it from my MIL--so it is about 60 plus years old. The stable plays Silent Night--the wind up still works! It is one of 30 some sets I have in my house but it is the oldest by far. It would be my favorite if it had more characters. My largest set has 32 pieces, unlike the fontanni pictured in lynninnewmexico post most sets cannot be expanded, which bums me out. My dad has that set and presently sits at over 50 pieces. I have given that set out to god children for 25 years, one piece at a time.

I also have a collection of trees and Angels. The oldest I have in those collections would not warrant "vintage". I have one tree topper angel that is "old" but I have no way to date her, as I got her at a garage sale.

I do have a set of Norman Rockwell tins that feature his vintage Christmas scenes, does that count?
Merry Christmas!!

VIvian, you made me laugh...I do a Radko tree as well, but I was on ebay looking for something and happened on a radko ornament that I have and nearly put the whole kit and kaboodle up for sale LOL The early ones go for stupid amounts of money! Frankly the new ones are the same. I used to buy one or two whenever I traveled and ammased a collection of around 300 but I haven't bought one for years since they upped the prices significantly. I'd never have a Radko tree today if I had to go buy all the things!

Lynn, I have a tinsel (pom pom) tree I'm dying to put up in the basement....except I can't find the dang thing. Who loses a tree? LMAO

Music Teacher...DON'T PAINT THOSE!!!! They're very collectable and if you paint them you will ruin their value. Love their scars...they've lived a long life and it's great you still honor them by hanging them on the tree.

Hummm streamlined holiday decor.....I just can't wrap my head around it. I love the dozens of totes and the two weeks of decorating :) Honestly it's the happiest time of year for me and I cherish every second.

Not so much the putting away, but I do it because by May they start to look tacky :P

Betty what a pretty ornament...and I would imagine a very special one full of memories. Isn't that what they're supposed to be about? :)

I'm so excited today. I found my tinsel tree!!!! And I found the tree stand I forgot I purchased for a dollar at a garage sale right next to it as well as six strands of NOS bubble lights :) The tree stand revolves slowly and plays music ala music box style bells. It's from the 70's likely...maybe a bit earlier but the box says that when I put my holiday tree in the stand and turn it on...I will be the envy of the neighborhood! heh heh So I did...and I must say, I love the old thing LOL

Now to decorate....(It's actually quite pretty on it's own but I'm going to try. it's very delicate so I won't be letting DS Help today....I'll have to sneak if I can get him to take a nap heh heh) I'm dying to finish it and post a pic.

Bettydee - LOOK! I have 3 of the same star ornaments. They were on every Christmas tree we had when I was growing up (which makes them really old, before the mid 1950s).

When my mother died, I was the lucky one who received them.

Pic removed.

This post was edited by luckygal on Sat, Dec 8, 12 at 15:32

Igloochic, I laughed out loud at your comment about Christmas decorations looking tacky by May. A few years ago, I had put out a whole collection of Snow Village houses. Life threw me some curve balls and the houses didn't get packed away until Memorial Day weekend when I was able to get some help. Thank goodness the village was in a secondary bedroom so I could close the door and hide it...LOL!!!

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Let's see if those work.....I find the new photobucket to be ummm a pain...adding to that an ipad seems to be a pain in GW :( But anyhoo, I did get my vintage tree decorated. The stand is fabulous...it plays music and revolves LOL It says it's the envy of the neighborhood LMAO Anyhoo, I love it.

Awesome maddielee! Mine are from the 50s.

See the tree wall-hanging on the left side of the picture? I found it in my late MIL's things and I had to have it. lol. Looks like it was made in the 50's or 60's.

I had a small collection of very old ornaments and a few years ago had a tree fall and many were broken....heart breaking.....but such good memories.