Merry (Christmas)-Go-Round

This intricate example of German woodcraft is called a Christmas pyramid. Each of the graduated tiers is centered around a rotating axel, with a multi-bladed fan atop. When the candles are lit, the warm air causes the fan to rotate and the miniature figures turn as if on a merry-go-round. These pyramids, called "weihnachtspyramide," trace their origins to the Erzgebirge region of Germany, which has a long tradition of woodcarving, including the production of toys. Some historians think that the Christmas pyramid predates the Christmas tree. The ancestor of the Christmas pyramid was the 18th century lichtergestelle ("light stand"), constructed of four poles and decorated with evergreen boughs, which were tied together at the top, and lit with candles. As the lichtergestelle was eventually replaced with the Christmas tree, Erzgebirge artisans refined the lichtergestelle, crafting it from wood, decorating it with tiny scenes, and adding a spinning motion.

The Christmas pyramid incorporates scenes from the nativity. On the top tier, angels herald the birth of the Christ child.

On the next tier, the first of the rotating levels, an angel appears to the shepherds watching their flocks, One kneels in awe while the his fellow shepherd follows the sheep.

The third tier depicts the shepherds journeying with their flocks.

The bottom tier depicts the arrival of the Magi, bearing gifts as they circle Mary, Joseph, and the baby in the manger.

In Germany, outdoor Christmas markets may feature a giant Christmas pyramid, but you don't have to travel all the way to Germany to see one. Every year, Fredericksburg, Texas displays a 26-foot high version during the holiday season.

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Splendid Screen from India

This exquisite vintage screen is from India. Intricately carved and hand painted on both sides, this wooden divider features scenes of courtly lovers and elaborately dressed men and women in colorful traditional costumes, bordered by delicate floral designs. The screen, from the trim on the painted clothing to the pierced work on the screen, is lavishly accented with gilt.

 

Although the tradition of miniature painting existed in India perhaps as early as the 7th century CE in illustrations of Buddhist scriptures, the style of painting on this superb screen reflects the influence of the Mughal dynasty. Ruling India from 1526 CE to 1857 CE, the Mughal period was established by Babur, a descendent of Genghis Khan. His son, Humayun, was forced into exile, but returned with the assistance of the Persian Shah. Influenced by his time in Persia, Humayun brought with him Persian miniature artists as part of his court. His son, Akbar, was able to consolidate the empire and established an atelier of over hundred painters. Over time, the Persian tradition melded with Indian influences, moving from chronicling the events of the Mughal courts to illustrating Hindu epics and history as artists migrated to other regions of India, establishing their own schools and styles. This fabulous folding screen is like having your own portable private gallery of traditional Indian art.

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Statuesque

Statuesque describes a woman who is exceptionally tall and shapely. The words certainly describes this  large lovely lady carefully carved from wood and elaborately adorned with tiny mirrored tiles, glass jewels, and gold cord. She is mostly likely from Southeast Asian. Her tight-fitting hip-length jacket resembles the traditional Burmese htaingmathein. This buttonless jacket is worn over a chemise or bodice and paired with a wrap-around skirt called a longyi. The use of glass tiles or jewels as decoration is also typical of Burmese carvings. She carries a water jug in one hand. Perhaps she is preparing to take part in Thingyan, the Burmese new year, which includes a water festival in which participants playfully douse each other with water to help wash away last year's sins. 

Close ups of the detailed decorations on her elegant outfit.

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Happy World Doll Day!

June 12th is World Doll Day. World Doll Day was established in 1986 by doll collector and artist Mildred Seeley. It was created to spread the universal message of happiness and love and it has become the tradition on that day to give the gift of a doll to a child, especially one whose family cannot afford dolls. Periodically antique or vintage dolls appear in our trove. In commemoration of World Doll Day, we present this beautiful wooden hand painted bookends featuring Japanese folk dolls called "kokeshi."

These whimsical wooden  dolls originated near the end of the Edo era (1603-1868) in the Tōhoku region of northern Japan, renown for its onsen (hot spring spas). Local woodworkers began carving wooden dolls on lathes to sell to visitors at the onsen. Although the dolls from different regions had their own characteristics, they all shared the same minimalist style of round heads, limbless bodies, and simple colorful decorations. They are typically carved from cherry, dogwood, and maple. Some were created out of one piece of wood, while others had heads that wobbled or turned. The dolls were popular souvenirs and children's toys. At the end of WWII, other regions of Japan began producing their own versions of kokeshi dolls for collectors and the growing tourist trade. Known as "creative" kokeshi dolls, they come in a wide range of styles, often with more detailed decoration and added wooden hair and accessories, representing everything from traditional samurai warriors to contemporary cartoon characters.

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Wagon, Ho!

This wonderful wooden wagon harks back to a time when deliveries were by dray horses, not Uber drivers, and houses and apartments had coal cellars to store the fuel used to fire up the boilers and heat homes. 

This terrific antique toy is large enough for a small child to ride on and in fact there is a handle that allowed a little rider to steer the horses as he or she perched on the wagon. 

Inside the wagon is the label of Jacrim Manufacturing Company of Boston for its "Drive Em" horse and wagon line. Jacrim was founded in 1922 in Malden, Massachusetts. It first produced beautifully crafted and detailed toy wooden ships and sailboats, but soon expanded its line of sturdy wooden toys to the “Ride ‘Em" wagons and carts, forts, trains, and other vehicles. In 1934, Jacrim merged into Keystone Manufacturing Company and was legally dissolved.

Glorious Gucci Necklace

This simple yet exquisite cross necklace is from the famed Italian fashion house of Gucci.  The cross is of rich dark wood, trimmed in sliver, hanging from a substantial sterling chain.

In addition to the Gucci hang tag, the clasp is also marked with the company's name, as well as "Ag 925," the assay mark for sterling silver, meaning that the metal is 92.5 percent pure silver.

One of the best known high-end fashion houses in the world, Gucci was founded in 1921 by Guccio Gucci. While working in hotels in Paris and London, Gucci studied the high-quality luggage used by the hotels' patrons. Upon returning his native Florence, Gucci established a shop offering finely made and classically designed leather luggage and handbags created in his atelier. With the help of his three sons, Gucci added shops in Milan and Rome and expanded the inventory to include footwear, silks, and knitwear. By the 1950s, Gucci had stores worldwide. Wealthy jet-setters and movie stars flaunted Gucci's iconic leather goods and clothing, making Gucci an international status symbol. In fact, "Gucci" has become an adjective to indicate that something is expensive and high-quality (on the other hand, the term "Gucci gulch" describes the cluster of highly-paid lobbyists waiting outside of a legislative hearing room). Later Gucci added jewelry, watches, and eyewear to its growing fashion lines. It is highest-selling Italian brand and is considered one of the most recognizable and valuable brands worldwide.

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Christmas in July?

Nutcrackers, thanks to the popularity of the seasonal performance of the The Nutcracker, the 1892 ballet set to the music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, have become a symbol of the Christmas season.  However, this nutcracker is not your typical solider or Santa, but instead represents Uncle Sam resplendent in red, white, and blue.  So instead of Christmas in July, he will put a little Fourth of July in your Christmas.

Instead of a Christmas carol, Uncle Sam will serenade you with "America the Beautiful" from the music box concealed in his kettle drum.  

Turned from wood and hand painted, Uncle Sam is by the German company of Steinbach. In Germany, there is a long history of wood carving and for centuries wooden nutcrackers in the shape of soldiers have been standing sentry in German households. The stern-looking carvings are thought to bring good luck and are prominent offerings in German Christmas markets. After WWII, American soldiers stationed in Germany often brought these brightly painted nutcrackers home as gifts. Then, in 1944, the San Francisco Ballet company performed the first complete version of The Nutcracker in the United States. Soon ballet companies throughout the country began producing their own holiday versions of the ballet and nutcrackers became synonymous with the Christmas season. Steinbach, which has been producing fine wood products since 1832, innovated and renovated the nutcracker tradition by producing nutcrackers in novel forms, including figures from fairy tales or history or representing occupations or sports endeavors. The hand-crafted nutcrackers were often in limited editions and and soon collectors all over the world were clamoring for them. Although Uncle Sam's jaw opens and closes with a lever in his back like a traditional nutcracker, he is ornamental, not utilitarian. He premiered in 2001and was a limited edition of 5,000 worldwide.

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