Antique Lot
Make Your Tree “Antique” with Victorian Christmas Tree Ornaments
Many people enjoy antiquing – searching out rare treasures often at bargain basement prices. At an antique store, you can find lots of different items in various states of repair. In antiquing, the old adage, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure, is definitely true. Christmas tree ornaments are, increasingly, very popular with antiquers these days, especially Victorian Christmas tree ornaments.
Christmas Tree Ornaments from the Victorian Era
The long period (1837-1901) during which Queen Victoria ruled England – known simply as the Victorian era – is normally associated only with England, but the United States was also hugely affected by Victorian tastes and morals. Victoria was famously rigid, yet her era also saw extremely fine decorations, and Victorian Christmas tree ornaments often reflect this.
For much of the Victorian era, electricity didn’t even exist as a household commodity, or it was very scarce. So there were no strings of Christmas lights – instead, candles were used to light up the tree. While very few candles survive from that time, the candles themselves were set in brass candle holders, and those candle holders are now prized as classic Victorian Christmas tree ornaments.
Another example of classic Victorian Christmas tree ornaments are those depicting Father Christmas. The characters of Father Christmas and Santa Claus are essentially the same — they are both based on the real person known as Saint Nicholas — but they do not have similar appearances. Rather than the familiar red and white suit with a black belt, Victorian era “Father Christmas” ornaments show figures of a man with an ample white beard and flowing robes, more reminiscent of a wizard or old sage than what we think of as Santa Claus. And a good number of Victorian Christmas tree ornaments that depict Father Christmas are still out there and can be found by the determined antiquer.
Velvet ribbons are one example of Victorian Christmas tree ornaments that used to be common but now are rather hard to find. Crimson colored velvet ribbons were prized tree ornaments, and were placed decoratively throughout the Christmas tree. Velvet does not keep for a very long time, so if you do happen to see examples of these antique Christmas tree ornaments in an antique store, chances are they will need to be restored.
Thus, an easier option is to simply go to your local fabric supply store and purchase new velvet for your Christmas decorations and ornaments. In fact, if you can use a needle and thread (or a sewing machine!), you could just buy a yard or two of velvet at a local shop, cut it up into strips, sew the sides, and make your own velvet ribbons that way. Regardless of how you decide to do it, have fun decorating your Christmas tree! Remember there are always websites on the Internet that can help with any and all of your holiday decorating questions.
Ford 1941 Model Pickup Truck Lot 213 at Fontaine’s Antique Auction Gallery Feb 2011 Auction
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