An heirloom ornament, a handmade tablecloth, or a vintage serving tray filled with Grandma’s best treats – over the years, these special pieces become part of cherished holiday scenes that live in our minds forever.
In this spirit, we’ve gathered together a group of holiday collectibles that families worldwide have cherished for generations. Here we share the stories behind each one and invite you to stop in to find the perfect pieces for your own holiday traditions, old or new.
Bavarian Cuckoo Clocks, Handmade in Germany
Hand-carved in the Black Forest Region of Southern Germany, Bavarian cuckoo clocks have preserved the art and craftsmanship of the original clockmaker from the 1700’s. Constructed from hand-carved bases, each clock uniquely depicts characters from everyday life. The choice of cuckoo calls, a delightful homage to nature, was inspired by its simplicity – far easier to replicate than the crow of a rooster. This melody is created using bellows and pipes, echoing the ingenuity of church pipe organs.
Department 56
For many, the reappearance each Christmas of a beloved Department 56 village is a highly anticipated event. We’re excited to have three of the most popular villages in our collection.
The Original Snow Village – the collection that started it all. Over the years, it’s continued to grow with charming new depictions of classic neighborhood sights.
Christmas in the City – with its busy train stations, towering sky scrapers, and classic brownstones, this collection captures the unique energy of the big city at Christmastime.
Dickens’ Village – rich in tradition and a little mysterious, this village is everything you want in a Victorian scene – cobblestone, petticoats, and ghosts and all.
Incense Smokers, Handmade in Germany
The earliest German smokers – or Rauchermen – first appeared in the late 1600s in the famous Erzgebirge woodworking region of Germany. As the area’s mining industry diminished, workers adapted the woodworking skills they’d learned to create handmade toys and household items – including incense smokers. In Germany, incense serves to both bless the home during the holiday season and protect it from the evil spirits of Raunaechte, the longest night of the year.
Ino Schaller, Handmade in Germany
This handcrafted holiday tradition dates back more than a century – not long after paper mache was first used to create decorative containers for candies in the Neustadt-Sonneberg area of Germany. Now in their fourth generation, the Schaller family continues to use their closely guarded process to create these one-of-a-kind, hand-signed pieces – including the menacing character of German folklore, Krampus.
Christmas Pyramids, Handmade in Germany
Long ago, miners working undergroundin the Erzgebirge region of Germany would tie together structures made of wooden sticks and candles a comforting source of light in the dark mines.
These light stands – or Lichtergestelle – became the inspiration for the intricately detailed Christmas pyramids we see today. Our pyramids are finely crafted by the Richard Glässer company, also from the storied Erzgebirge region.
Candle Light Arches, Handmade in Germany
Experience the magic of Erzgebirge, Germany with hand-carved wooden light arches. These intricate creations depict village life during the holiday season. Each arch pays homage to the region’s mining tradition, where miners hung their pit lamps in a semi-circular fashion at the pit entry hole before embarking on their final shift before Christmas. Symbolizing their yearning for light during long, dark workdays, these candle arches capture the spirit of hope and tradition.
Collectible Ornaments, Handcrafted Glass Treasures
The inspiration for Christopher Radko’s extraordinary ornaments came after the Radko family Christmas tree crashed to the floor and destroyed hundreds of vintage, hand-blown ornaments – each one irreplaceable. Heartbroken but determined to recapture his family’s traditions, Christopher Radko enlisted a Polish glassblower and began recreating his family heirlooms – ultimately moving on to design his own.
Each European glass piece is meticulously crafted by hand in an artisanal workshop using methods dating back to the Renaissance era. The artists put careful thought and precision into each step – creating the mold, blowing the glass, silvering the design, and meticulously painting each delicate detail by hand. The results are stunning heirlooms to create new and timeless traditions for your family and home.
And don’t forget maker, Joy to the World. Hand-blown and hand-painted in Europe, each extraordinary ornament features the kind of detail and devotion to excellence we know you love. This season, our assortment from Joy to the World includes The Pet Set – a crew of adorable dogs in almost every breed you can hope for – plus a few cats in there too.
Continue a Tradition – Or Start a New One
In our holiday collectibles, we hope you’ll find a piece that reminds you of something special in your own Christmases past and creates a cherished memory for your loved ones to treasure far into the future. If you’re looking for something special or have questions, just ask. We love helping you find those connections with the things that make Christmas so special to you.
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