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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 17, 2006-January 7, 2007

The halls and galleries of the Taft Museum of Art are adorned with antique Christmas
decorations and festive greenery, and the Dining Room table is set for a
holiday party with sparkling china, crystal, and silver.

Traditional German feather trees made of wire and dyed goose feathers are trimmed with rare
ornaments from the mid-19th through early 20th century and surrounded by toys, figures, and dolls.

Featured are Belsnickles (papier-mâché Santas), Kugels (blown-glass ornaments with
decorative metal tops), dresdens (embossed paper ornaments), paper dolls, and many
other beautiful and rare ornaments on loan from private collections.

All photos by Tony Walsh

All items on loan by Golden Glow of Christmas Past members

Putz scene is by Darla and Jerry Arnold.
There is a German elastoline castle, homemade cigar box houses,
mostly German figures and animals with a few that are French and Japanese.

See close up below

"Fantasy" ornament tree
created by Rick Finn

Rare pink feather tree decorated by Kathy and Stewart Gregory
with Czechoslovakian beaded glass ornaments.
There are Japanese candy containers around the base.

Blue tree is by Darla and Jerry Arnold.

All the glass ornaments are German,
Note the doll head with applied glass eyes, the Dresden egg
candy container with a bird scrap, Czech beaded bicycle,
and a blue serpent.
At the base are two blue fairy or jubilee lights and
Erzgebirge miniature wooden toys.

German nodder is almost 36 inches tall, and at the base are all German made candy containers.

Feather tree filled with 'end of day' glass ornaments, wax candles on
candle clips and a tinsel star. Note the picket fence.
from the collection of Stewart and Kathy Gregory.
Around the base are Snowmen and many of which are candy containers.

Santa nodder holding a feather tree from Rick Finn
also included are holly decorated gift boxes and many antique toys.

Cotton tree is by Rick Finn and Darla and Jerry Arnold.
At the Base are many antique toys.
Note that the tree is a rare pre-wired feather tree
with lights at the branch tips.

Gift tag tree is by Rick Finn These are from the early
1900's and note the wonderful fold-out paper
decorations around the base.

From the collection of Kathy and Stewart Gregory.
Shown here is a rare green coated Santa, blue feather tree and Coke tray.

By Kathy and Stewart Gregory, this tree is filled with
spun glass, tinsel and die cut scraps.
Gift boxes decorate the base of the tree.

Fruit and vegetable tree by Darla and Jerry Arnold
All are German glass ornaments, note the Bauchus grape face and the rare pea pod ornaments.
At the base are antique wax fruit baskets and a early printed stocking.

Angel ornament - scrap and tinsel

By Rick Finn, this tree is decorated with flower and butterflies,
all glass ornaments.

Wonderful collection of snowbabies!