Antique Christmas - Taft Museum of Art · Feather trees, like those seen throughout Antique Christmas, were the first “artificial” Christmas trees. They originated in the late

Antique Christmas November 6, 2015–January 3, 2016

On the cover: From the Collection of Rick Finn

Feather Trees Feather trees, like those seen throughout Antique Christmas, were the first “artificial” Christmas trees. They originated in the late 1800s in Germany and became popular in the United States beginning in the early 1900s. While live trees were brought indoors, many people deplored the idea of cutting down a beautiful conifer to be used for just a few days as a Christmas decoration. The use of feather trees in the United States grew in the 1920s—especially among European-born Americans who followed the customs of their native countries. A feather tree was made from turkey or goose feathers. After being dyed, the feathers were stripped from their quills and wrapped around heavy wire, with the end of each feather secured to it by a small, thin wire. A new feather was then attached in the same manner. When completed, the entire branch was circled with feathers resembling pine needles. The individual branches were then attached to a central wooden pole and placed in a stand. The end of each branch was usually finished with an artificial red berry or a metal candle holder. Notice the feather trees’ sparse branches. They resemble the native German white pines most commonly used there for Christmas trees. This sparseness also allowed for the safer use of candles and provided ample space to load the tree with ornaments and decorations. Feather trees came in many sizes, but smaller, two- to three-foot trees were the most common. An antique feather tree taller than five feet is a rare find. Later, prewired lighted feather trees became available. The popularity of feather trees waned before World War II. After the war, manufacturers began producing artificial trees in synthetic materials.

Glossary Belsnickle: stern-looking Santa figure made in Germany from about 1870 to 1920 of papier-mâché, composition, or stapled cardboard. The term Belsnickle is a German derivation of the French term Pelz Nichol, or “Nicholas in Fur.” bisque: unglazed, hard-fired white porcelain that is often employed for decorative arts objects and doll bodies. Bisque dolls began appearing in France during the 1850s, when their matte finish offered a more realistic alternative to glossy china dolls. Most bisque dolls were manufactured in France or the Thuringia region of Germany, an area famous for its natural clay deposits. composition: a glue and sawdust mixture that can be molded into three-dimensional shapes and painted. die-cut: flat cut-outs made by pressing paper or cardboard with a sharp steel tool (a die) custom designed in the desired shape. embossing: pressing paper between two dies to create a raised design. lithography: a printing process in which the image to be printed is rendered on a flat stone or metal plate that is run through a press. The image areas retain ink while the non-image areas are treated to repel ink. Chromolithography (color lithography) requires a series of inked plates, one for each color. papier-mâché: sheets of paper and glue layered successively onto a frame, or wet paper pulp placed in a mold to make three-dimensional objects such as figures, boxes, ornaments, or masks. scrap: printed paper cutouts (also called die-cuts or chromos, short for chromolithographs), often embellished with cotton batting, metallic tinsel, or other materials to make ornaments.

Second-Floor Landing by Fifth Third Gallery Christmas Horse and Wagon This wooden horse-drawn wagon was sold as a toy in the early 1900s. A plaque on its side reads “ST CLAUS / DEALER IN / GOOD THINGS.” Cotton creates the illusion of the horse’s soft coat, while horse hair forms a realistic mane and tail. The wagon overflows with antique toys. An early Santa, miniature feather trees, and dolls complete the vignette. From the Collection of Beth and Jay Karp Happy 65th Birthday, Frosty! Snowmen had long been popular holiday figures when Gene Autry recorded the song “Frosty the Snowman” in 1950. Frosty is now among the most familiar Christmas icons. Known for its attention to quality and detail, the Holt Howard Company made the matching set of ceramic candleholders and salt and pepper shakers. The post-World War II store advertising signs exhibit eye-catching graphics. Because they were never intended for public purchase, signs like these are difficult to find today. One advertises holiday gift wrap made by the Dennison Manufacturing Company, and the other promotes greeting cards produced by the Gibson Art Company of Cincinnati. Additional items on display include papier-mâché and plastic candy containers, as well as puzzles, books, gift tags, and other paper items showcasing everyone’s favorite snowman figure. One unusual cardboard gift box features Frosty riding atop a rocket! From the Collection of Linda and Thomas Martin

Beneath the Christmas Tree—A Child’s Delight From the 1870s to 1930s, good little girls and boys would have received toys like these at Christmastime. Composition roly-poly toys made in the 1920s stand in front of an early teddy bear that holds two 1930s jointed Mickey Mouse toys. Made in Germany in the late 1800s, a toy Noah’s ark sits atop a small doll’s trunk, which would have held all of dolly’s accessories. Miniature household furnishings decorate the four-room folding doll house, patented by McLoughlin Brothers in 1884. An 1890s Armand Marseille German doll sits on a white Victorian wicker chair. Colorful paper lithographs adorn the wooden blocks stacked nearby. Arcade Manufacturing Company produced the 1929 cast-iron Model A Ford, which fuels up at a lithographed tin service station made by Louis Marx & Co. Three small pre-1900 feather trees stand within the toys. From the Collection of Pam and Jim Thomas

Historic House Entry Dolly’s Kitchen The renowned German toy company Moritz Gottschalk made this kitchen room-box toy in about 1910. Period-appropriate furnishings include a scale, cutting boards, grater, pots, pans, and a set of blue and white porcelain canisters marked with German words for sugar (Zucker), flour (Mehl), and coffee (Kaffe). Gottschalk made several pieces specifically for this type of kitchen toy. While playing with it, children would have learned how a real kitchen operated. The flirty-eyed German bisque doll is about to add a little touch of Christmas to the scene. From the Collection of Rick Finn

Sinton Gallery Selling During the Holidays This selection of advertisements from about 1900 to 1940 promoted products using Christmas themes. Artful illustrations evoked warm holiday feelings to convince potential buyers to purchase the products as gifts or for use in their Christmas celebrations. Magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post, The Ladies’ Home Journal, and Life carried ads for popular brands such as Kodak, Cream of Wheat, Baker’s Cocoa, and Ford. The ads offer snapshots of American culture. A greeting card ad encouraged support for the troops and their families during World War I. Cream of Wheat’s advertising featured a friendly African American chef, an image now considered a racial stereotype. Ford Motor Company’s ad focused on the growing needs of urban drivers. And, a coffee ad (from the organization that invented the daily “coffee break”) hailed the benefits of drinking the caffeinated beverage at all times of day. From the Collection of Pam and Jim Thomas Blue and Silver Glimmer of Christmas Past This contemporary feather tree contains two types of ornaments: Dresden, made solely of embossed cardboard, and Sebnitz, made of scrap pieces of foil, fabric, paper, wax, and strips of metal left over from sequin making. Produced in Dresden and Sebnitz, Germany, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, these ornaments are among the rarest and most sought-after Christmas collectibles. Blue Belsnickles (Santa candy containers) and a blue Santa lantern, all made around 1890, stand around the tree, while a few 1920s silver and blue art glass deer graze under the branches. An engraved nativity scene adorns the sterling silver cover of a tiny Bible from around 1750.

The tree stands on a silver platter filled with assorted “kugel” ornaments, including a rare silver grape cluster kugel from 1860 to 1870. Kugels were characterized by thick colored glass, considerable weight, and a large decorative brass cap. German for “ball,” kugel ornaments also took the forms of fruits and vegetables. German glassmakers invented kugels in the 1830s or 1840s and produced them until the beginning of World War I. From the Collection of Kathy and Stewart “Greg” Gregory Here Comes Santa Claus These 1920s to 1940s papier-mâché Santa candy containers were sometimes called “egg crates” because the material resembled egg cartons made out of paper pulp. Early makers lightly painted the clothing red, leaving the natural coloring of the papier-mâché for the faces and hands. Later, makers added color throughout the containers. The bags or chimneys held candy, which could also be inserted into the bottom of the container. Hostesses could place containers like the smaller ones shown here at dinner table settings as party favors. From the Collection of Margaret and Dick Guy “Hauck” Toy Beer Wagon The Hauck family visited a German toy factory around 1900. During their visit, they commissioned this fabulous bronze and wooden beer wagon pull toy as a gift to its current owner’s father and uncle, Cornelius J. and Frederic Hauck, when they were boys. The toy replicates the John Hauck Brewing Company horse-drawn wagon. The wagon seat bears an “H” for Hauck. The initials “C” and “F,” for Cornelius and Frederic, adorn the back. This kind of wagon would have made stops at prosperous homes and businesses throughout Cincinnati at the beginning of the 20th century. From the Collection of Janet and Cornelius W. Hauck

North End of Long Hallway Beaded Wonderland of Antique Christmas Czech craftsmen have produced glass beads for centuries. Around 1900 they started creating Christmas tree ornaments, first in geometric shapes called “kites.” In the 1920s, Czech artisans began producing beaded ornaments in a myriad of forms such as people, modes of transportation, household items, and animals—even unusual ones like the giant spider on a web, lobster, or lizard seen here. Czech beads came in many sizes, including large ones filled with milky, glow-in-the-dark wax. Later in the century, Japanese craftsmen made ornaments in the Czech style by surrounding blown-glass globes with strung beads. A few examples hang on this 1930s feather tree. Beneath the tree, a Santa made in Japan drives a sleigh pulled by three reindeer. From the Collection of Kathy and Stewart “Greg” Gregory

18th-Century British Paintings Gallery Merry Christmas and Season’s Greetings to You This display features small embossed and diecut Christmas cards and booklets printed in Germany, England, and the United States during the 1890s to the early 1920s. Most contain a poem or holiday greeting. Fastened with a thin gold, red, or green cord, they were ready to hang on the Christmas tree. From the Collection of Margaret and Dick Guy

19th-Century Landscape Painting Gallery Snowy White Christmas Tree The frosty appearance of these spun cotton icicles and snowballs makes them the perfect decoration for a winter wonderland tree. Flakes of mica (a transparent, shiny mineral) create the glittery effect. Gift boxes printed with holly and poinsettia designs surround the German feather tree. These boxes offered a popular gift wrapping option in the early 20th century. Gift-givers could purchase them with gifts such as pens, handkerchiefs, or candy already inside or as empty boxes to package their own presents. From the Collection of Margaret and Dick Guy

Longworth Foyer Christmas Elves Made in Germany just after the end of World War II, these three elves comprised a store display, possibly for FAO Schwartz. The tallest elf is a clockwork “nodder.” Winding the key on his side activates a spring mechanism that moves his head up and down for hours. Foil ornaments from the 1940s decorate the tree, which is surrounded with toys from the same period. From the Collection of Rick Finn

19th-Century Figural Painting Gallery Imaginative Italian Ornaments Italian glassblowers began making these kinds of ornaments in the 1940s and exporting them a decade later. Made using German techniques, these mouth-blown ornaments were extremely fragile because of their thin glass walls and extended arms, legs, and tails. Artisans hand-shaped them into unique objects, trimming some with feathers, cotton, pipe cleaners, and plush. No two are exactly alike. Originally, Sears and Montgomery Ward sold sets of four for about $3—pricey at the time. Italian craftsmen still make and export these whimsical, brightly colored ornaments today. Beneath the tree, small toys from the 1940s and 1950s represent popular gifts received by children on Christmas. They include a Ginny doll, a jeweled Duncan yo-yo, an original Captain Video ring, and three Tiny Golden Books. The homemade fence is from the 1930s. With his bag of goodies, Babbo Natale (Italy’s version of Santa Claus) completes the display. He is made of papier-mâché, called cartapesta in Italian. From the Collection of Kathy and Stewart “Greg” Gregory

Barbizon Gallery All Aboard Noah’s Ark Because of their biblical themes, Noah’s arks were called “Sunday toys.” Many children from well-to-do households were fortunate enough to have one. Arks from the 1890s made in the Erzgebirge region of Germany, like this one, are now considered to be the finest examples. Although intended as toys, their delicate carving and hand-painted decoration make them stunning examples of folk art as well.

Wood carvers made two kinds of toy arks: flat-bottomed or deep-hulled. Arks complete with their original animals—the more the better—retain the most value. This deep-hulled ark includes all eight members of Noah’s family and more than 200 animals, birds, and insects, which could be stored beneath the ark’s hinged lid. Can you find the pair of moths with their carved wooden bodies and paper wings? A rare miniature version of an Erzgebirge deep-hulled ark with tiny hand-carved animals accompanies the larger ark. From the Collection of Susan Bickert

South End of Long Hallway Russian Feather Tree and Figures After the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, the Soviet state effectively banned the religious celebration of Christmas and replaced it with a secular festival observed on New Year’s Day. Russians fashioned many holiday decorations based on Russian folk traditions, stories, and fairy tales. The ornaments on this feather tree represent some of these fairy-tale figures, as well as whimsical animals. The Russians fashioned their glass ornaments with thicker glass than their German counterparts. They painted pressed cardboard ornaments with more simplified designs than those made in Dresden, Germany. Grandfather Frost (Ded Moroz) became the recognized gift-giving figure in Russia. With a long white beard and blue or red robes trimmed with white fur, he resembles a distant Eastern cousin to Santa Claus. His granddaughter, the Snow Maiden (Snegurochka), accompanies him. Beneath the tree, 1930s papier-mâché figures and 1920s postcards portray Grandfather Frost and the Snow Maiden. From the Collection of Pam and Jim Thomas

Dining Room Santa Is the Star Santa stars in these nostalgic reminders of Christmases during and after World War II. A number of companies produced decorative ceramic pieces that lent a festive touch to many homes during the holidays. Paper decorations, cards, pamphlets, and even tape dispensers created a cheerful environment and evoked the Christmas spirit. Stationery designed for greetings to servicemen shows Santa in a blue suit and U.S. Navy-inspired hat. The 1951 Christmas Seals counter display was never intended to be sold to the public and is rarely seen today. From the Collection of Linda and Thomas Martin

Music Room A Victorian Christmas Tree Late 19th-century lithographic paper scrap and tinsel ornaments decorate this Victorian-style feather tree. Members of the Pennsylvania Dutch community made the large flat cotton batting ornaments by hand. Ladies’ magazines of the day often featured patterns for this type of decoration. Candle holders on the branches and Victorian-era toys under the tree complete the scene. From the Collection of Rick Finn

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