Collecting European Holiday Antiques

Part of the magic of the holidays is decorating your home for family and friends. Antiques, especially holiday and Christmas antiques, are at the forefront of many collector's first choice to reflect their love of the season. A collection of antique Christmas decorations brings childhood back.... at least for a while. There are so many holiday antiques to collect, tree ornaments, Putz figures and animals, paper holiday cards, tinsel, dolls, bears, trains, the list goes as far as our beloved memories of our childhood Christmases. I was so fortunate to be able to take a trip to Europe right before December, and found some wonderful antique toys, dolls, and Christmas decorations for the shop. Many of you are always asking for beautiful Christmas antiques to add to your collection, and your holiday decor. I found some exceptional treasures!

Noel

My favorite find? Noel...isn't she breathtaking? This antique Porcelain doll is most likely French, she wears her original cotton batting boots, coat with the pointed hood. Her coat is embellished with glitter, and tinsel trim, tied at the waist with silver bullion ribbon. She holds an antique pink blown glass bell ornament. BEST and ONLY ONE I've ever found, she is sure to delight one of our clients. What a spectacular rare treasure she is! Quite large at 50cm {19-3/4"} she will bring the joy of Christmas to your collection and home, this fabulous doll has beautifully hand painted eyebrows and lashes, a lovely set of ocean blue glass eyes, rose blushed cheeks and you can just see her teeth inside that sweet pouty open mouth. She is a rare, magical addition to your collection. I found plenty of smaller holiday antiques, too, some not quite as old as the Winter Holiday Noel Doll....

This Antique Putz German Sled with Santa, pulled by his celluloid Reindeer.

A pair of Celluloid Reindeer, still covered in glitter and mica chips....

How darling are these two? Marie and her King Louis XVI, souvenirs of long ago, in their holiday reds.

Two Metal Putz Reindeer, a stag and his son...out roaming the forest.

And this little miniature band of hand carved wood Angel Musicians...

There are small and large, inexpensive and costlier antique and vintage collector's pieces for Christmas in our Celebrations department at FrenchGardenHouse. Holidays bring out the magic, and the child in all of us!

Here at home I lighten up the mood, and let my antiques play "Christmas" a little, so they are not so serious. {There is fun to be had at holiday time! Liven up your decor a little with one or more of these little finds.} Now that we once again have a house filled with children, it's only natural that I'd want to bring childhood antiques back into my decorating.

And don't forget, every time you leave a comment on any post here, at my backroom FrenchGardenHouse blog, you are entered to win a copy of this fantastic book, SEGRETO VIGNETTES!