Vintage Christmas Collectibles for Holiday Decor

Do you want to learn about some of the more popular vintage Christmas collectibles to add to your holiday decor? We identify some of the most popular vintage Christmas collectibles in this article.

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​Back Story

As a former vintage and antique dealer, I looked forward to the Christmas season every year!  It was an opportunity to put out all my vintage Christmas collectibles I had been carefully setting aside throughout the year.  The summer months were usually spent in hot attics, dusty basements and outside at muggy yard sales scouring for vintage Christmas items.  In addition to vintage Christmas ornaments, I would look for nostalgic holiday decorations, especially those made around the 1950s or earlier.  

Then when the cold weather arrived, I finally was able to set out all of these “new” old finds in my booth.  Through the years, vintage Christmas decor has become increasingly collectible and popular.  Today, I am sharing with you some of the items customers routinely asked for and those items which always sold out.   As you are out thrifting or shopping in the coming months, these are items you can add to your Christmas collection in your own home. 

Vintage Christmas Collectibles

 Below are the top five most popular vintage Christmas collectibles.

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1. Santa Mugs

Around 2015, vintage Santa mugs started to become collectible.  Particularly those Santa mugs made around the mid-century with the paint flaking off.  These mugs were usually made in Japan and stamped as such on the bottom.  Holt Howard mugs, which are marked with an HH , are the most sought after and expensive. You can read more about collecting vintage Santa Mugs here.

​Vintage Santa mugs I set out for the holiday season sold quickly.  The mini mugs were used as shot glasses for egg nog or brandy. If you look closely at the image below on the right – you can see the world “Japan” on the bottom of the mug.

2. Pulp Paper Candy Containers

Pulp paper, or paper mache, candy containers are also collectible. These containers can be antique (100 years old or more) or vintage (at least 50 years old).   Santa’s red boot is the iconic pulp paper candy container and most of these were made in the 1950s.  However, there are also a number of Santa Claus paper candy containers that are collectible and in demand.  They vary in size from about 4 inches tall to 12 inches tall.  Of course, the larger the candy container, the greater the price.  The pulp paper was put into a mold and then after it dried, painted using cheerful holiday colors.  Finally, it was filled with candy!  The materials used to make these candy containers feels similar to a cardboard egg carton.  

3. Putz Houses

In recent years, putz houses have become immensely popular.  These sweet little cardboard homes were originally made in Germany and later made in Japan.  Both are very collectible.  Those putz houses stamped “Japan” on the bottom, were usually made in the mid century.  Sometimes these sweet little houses are beat up and since they are made of cardboard, they may have some damage.  With a little care and patience, they can usually be repaired.  American Farmhouse Style has a great article on collecting vintage putz houses. 

In my own collection of putz houses, I have a few “new” homes made in the early 2000s. Although they technically are not considered vintage, I still love them.

4.Vintage Santa Figures

A new trend is collecting vintage Santa Figures.  This can include Santa figurines, pillows, post cards, and dolls.  These items tend to be vintage and produced around the 1950s.  Next time you are out and about thrifting or at a flea market, keep an eye out for any vintage Santa figures. 

In addition to the figures above, Santas painted on wooden cutouts are increasingly popular.

5. Vintage Christmas Stockings

This is also an emerging trend.  Vintage Christmas stockings have become very collectible and customers frequently asked if any were available.  These were usually made of felt and as such, it’s difficult to find vintage Christmas stockings in good condition.  Felt is a fragile material that doesn’t hold up as well over time compared to “sturdier” fabrics like cotton or wool.

Mercury Glass Ornaments

Here is one more bonus item to add to the list of five above.  Vintage and antique mercury glass ornaments continue to be sought after and have stood the test of time.  Tree toppers are especially popular as well as those larger mercury glass ornaments.  Here is an article about collecting mercury glass ornaments.  These are still one of my favorite items to collect.  After all, you can never have too many Christmas ornaments. 

​Even newer mercury glass ornaments produced by Old World Christmas or Christopher Radko have become collectible.  As well as any sets of ornaments that were limited editions. 

Other Christmas Collectibles

In addition to the general categories above, here are some other vintage Christmas items to look for:

• Snow globes
• Christmas Books
• Nativity sets
• Santa hats
• Christmas villages
• Tree skirts
• Light sets or string lights
• Candle sets
• Bottle brush trees

In Closing…

Thank you for stopping by the blog today.  Whether you like to collect Christmas figurines or vintage ornaments, the best Christmas decorations are the ones that speak to you.  Happy collecting!