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Dresden Ornaments


Petersburg, MI

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A German Christmas at the Taft Museum of Art

19th-Century Ornaments and Decorations

Exhibited November 25, 2005 - January 8, 2006

Christmas decorations from Germany adorned the galleries of the Taft Museum of Art during
Christmas 2005. Traditional German feather trees, made of wire and goose feathers dyed green,
are trimmed with rare Victorian ornaments dating from the 1870s.

Also on display were German toys, figures, and dolls.
Featured items include:
Antique Belsnickles (papier-mâché Santas)
Kugels (blown-glass ornaments with decorative tops)
Dresdens (embossed paper ornaments)
Free-blown, Victorian wire-wrapped ornaments.
Festive greenery also decked the halls of the house.
The Dining Room table was set for the holidays using antique silver.

Organized with help from collectors in the Golden Glow of Christmas Past

Photos by Tony Walsh

Belsnickles are from the
Kathy and Stewart Gregory collection.

"Fantasy" ornament tree
created by Rick Finn

Close up of the "fantasy" tree.
Note the anchor and the two
candle shades. From Rick Finn.

(close-up) Wire wrapped
from the Gregory's.
Note the pink feather tree.

Wire wrapped birds in nest and spider from Rick Finn

The Gregory's dresden tree

Close up of the rabbit
and the elephant candy container (below)

Paper Doll Tree from (Darla and Jerry Arnold),
shows a scent bottle, doll head glass ornaments
and flat dresdens - all doll related items.

The Arnold's bird tree with real bird nest attached to the feather tree.

A cabinet full of miniature toys from Beth Karp

Close up of the jack-in-the-boxes from the above toy display

Rick Finn's large nodder Santa and wire wrap tree