Christmas Tree-Toppers - Finials... a Tradition
The tippy-top position (or "crown"), on our Christmas trees invites a very special treatment. Decorative Christmas ornament tree-toppers (treetoppers or finials) have their origin in the Victorian era, when Christmas trees became popular in England. Wikipedia notes that in 1848 The Illustrated London News published a picture of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, and their family around a Christmas tree topped with an Angel. Thus the Christmas Angel became the most common tree-topper. Christmas stars are very popular, as are elegant Christmas reflectors. Santas, and Snowmen are also commonly used. My Growing Traditions offers some of each from Inge-Glas of Germany (the oldest Christmas ornament company in the world).
Left to right: Spirit of Christmas Dreams, Twinkling Star Tree Top, Vintage Poinsettia
Left to right: St. Nikolaus' Tannenbaum and King of the Hill.
These glass finials and the elegant, simple, wooden Spanbaum (also known as span trees, wood shaved trees, chip or chipped trees, twilled trees, and curled trees) tree topper from the Erzgebirge (Germany's Christmas Center) that we happily carry this year for the first time, all require some special care when it comes to decorating your tree.
About.com - provides some useful "Tips for Topping the Tree"
- "When using glass finials, extra care must be used when attaching them to the tree. It can be difficult to attach and/or slide the finial onto the top branch of the tree, although it's a bit easier with an artificial tree. When using a finial on a live tree, one suggestion is to wire or attach a wooden dowel to the top of the tree and slide the finial onto the dowel.
- Be careful when adding the finial to the dowel or top of tree, make sure it is securely attached and is straight. (... a small amount of cotton batting around the wooden dowel will cushion the glass).
- If the finial has a reflector in the mold, they can be easily damaged by the dowel or even the tree top branch.... Make sure the dowel/tree branch doesn't reach the spot where the reflector is in the glass.
- Although the perfect scenario is having a beautifully decorated tree, with the top put on at the very end, in reality it's much easier to put the finial or tree-topper on first!"
Wendt and Kühn Santas and Pixies - Christmas is Here
Wendt and Kühn is especially known for their Classic Angels and Flower Children. Yet, Wendt and Kühn provides us with even more with their charming pieces for creating Christmas displays.
The Large Santa Claus with Toys - the toys come separately, so that you can tuck them into his bag - is 6" tall and more than majestic! He makes a perfect centerpiece for your Christmas table.
Add the Ore Mountain Pines, the Grünhainichen Angels with Tree, and the Angel with Candle to complete the theme.
The Santa Claus with Candles is magical shown here with the Small Angel with a Star and an Angel in a Ring ornaments.
and is wonderful displayed with the Pixies by his side.
Wendt and Kühn Santas are simply essential to Christmas!
New Angels and Children from the Emil Helbig Workshop
The Emil Helbig Workshop in Gruenhainichen (in the Erzgebirge and known as a Toy Makers Village), Germany has been in business since 1933 and is the oldest woodcarving workshop in the Ore Mountains. Their work is unique, simple, and truly elegant.
We have expanded our Emil Helbig offerings to include two sweet little children bringing flowers.
The young boy carries a nosegay and the girl has collected a bunch of flowers in her apron.
Our new Angels are the Angel with a Deer (the Deer admires the star the Angels holds in her hands)
and the Angel with a Baby in a Cradle.
All are classic Emil Helbig wood carvings - delicately carved and finely painted. A joy to add to your collection!
New for 2014 - Wendt and Kühn Grünhainichen Angels
This year, 2014, Wendt and Kühn of Germany has added three new Grünhainichen Angels to their collection.
They are left to right, the Angel with the Small Trumpet, the Angel with Gifts, and the Angel with a Little Tree.
Sitting on their gold pedestal, each is 1-1/2" tall and sit perfectly beside the standing 2-1/2" Grünhainichen Angel Bearing Gifts pictured with two of them here:
Mix and match, create your own display, and enjoy the meticulous art of Wendt and Kühn Grunhainichen Angels - the Angels with the Eleven Dot Wings
treasured by collectors all over the world for nearly 100 years.
Click on the images or links above to find them in our shop.
Enjoy our Wendt and Kühn Pinterest Board.
Inge-Glas Hedgehogs - New for 2014
This year, Inge-Glas of Germany has come full circle in the world of hedgehogs. In 2011 they introduced Mama Hedgehog
Hedgehogs are native to Europe, Asia, and Africa. They may be kept as pets in most of the United States. They are called hedgehogs because they make a pig-like grunt while searching for food. They are nocturnal, eat insects, and have a spiny protection that makes us think of porcupines, but they are not related.
European Folklore, as Wikipedia reports, has them commonly shown as carrying apples on their back: "As animals native to Europe, hedgehogs hold a place in European folklore. In most European countries, hedgehogs are believed to be a hard-working no-nonsense animal. This partially results from the folk belief that hedgehogs collect apples and mushrooms and carry them to their secret storage. It is unclear exactly how old this belief is, though the Roman author Pliny the Elder mentions hedgehogs gathering grapes by this method in his Naturalis Historia. In medieval bestiaries and other illuminated manuscripts dating from at least the 13th century onwards, hedgehogs are shown rolling on and impaling fruit to carry back to their dens. In fact, however, hedgehogs do not gather food to store for later consumption, relying on their deposited fat to survive hibernation. Nor is apple included in their usual diet (it has been suggested, however, that the hedgehogs may use juice of wild apples in order to get rid of parasites).... The image remains an irresistible one to modern illustrators. Therefore, hedgehogs are often portrayed carrying apples - partially, to make them look cuter." You may, indeed, enjoy perusing the many images of hedgehogs with apples on their back.
Indeed, Inge-Glas in 2014 has wonderfully completed the hedgehog family adding Papa Hedgehog with the fabled apple on his back
and Baby Hedgehog, too.
Papa Hedgehog and Baby Hedgehog are even more special because they are ornaments in the Inge-Glas Swarovski Collection: An exclusive collection, the Swarovski Collection ornaments "shine with multi-faceted crystals on the Christmas tree. Each ornament is decorated with sparkling Swarovski Elements, which intensify in the twinkling Christmas lights.
All of our Inge-Glas ornaments come complete with an Inge-Glas Gift Box and Archival Tissue.
2014 Carbonel Santons Nativity Sets - Size #2 (Elite)
Every year we build new Marcel Carbonel Santons (from Provence, France) Nativity Sets built around different stables. Saint Francis of Assisi is credited with creating the first nativity scene in 1223.
We always offer starter sets for Carbonel figures themselves (Mary, Joseph, and Jesus) and our Shepherd Gift set. Click here to see them in Size #2 (Elite) and here for Size #3 (Grande). All are a wonderful way to get started and to save some money.
Our one of a kind stable sets are available for Size #2. They include a stable, Santons figures, trees from the Erzgebirge, and Bavarian accessories. Enjoy the European tradition. Begin with a stable and the nativity figures. Over the years, add additional figures and Carbonel accessories, trees, and miniature accessories.
#1 - Charming Creche Set. This set includes Carbonel Ruin Stable with trees and eight figures: Mary, Joseph, Jesus, an Angel, three Kings, and a sheep. The accessories are from Bavaria and the Erzgebirge, Germany.
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- #2 -Wonderful Carbonel Nativity Set with German Accessories. This set includes a Courtyard Stable; Mary, Joseph, Jesus, three Kings, an Angel and a sheep. PLUS a sampling of accessories--all from Germany (the Erzgebirge and Bavaria).
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#3 - An exquisite creche starter set. Combine French Santons figures with a German stable and accessories. This set includes: eight Santons: Mary, Joseph, Jesus, three Kings, Angel, and a sheep. A detailed hand-made stable reminiscent of the European Alps from Bavaria. PLUS German trees and accessories.
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- #4 - Nativity Set with Carbonel Santons and Stable with German Accessories. This set celebrates the arrival of a Shepherd with his sheep - the shepherd was the first to arrive at the manger. The stable is the Stable with Trees - Étable No. 2 bis avec arbres. Eight figures: Mary, Joseph, Jesus, the Man with a sheep, three sheep, and a lamb. The accessories are from Bavaria and the Erzgebirge, Germany..
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#5 - A delightful creche set combining French Santons with a German Stable and accessories. A Bavarian stable - in the Alpine Tradition. Five (5) Santons figures: Mary, Joseph, Jesus, an Angel and a sheep. Accessories from Bavaria and the Erzgebirge, Germany.
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and finally #6 - Nativity Set with Carbonel Santons and Stable with German Accessories. Santons Stable with trees and four Santons: Mary, Joseph, Jesus and a sheep. The accessories are from Bavaria and the Erzgebirge, Germany.
Click on the images above to find these nativity sets in our shop. We ship online via the United States Post Office. For the bulk of the items we offer, USPS is definitely the least expensive way to ship. Nativity sets and Stables are one of the exceptions, due to weight and package dimensions. It is possible that our nativity sets would ship less expensively via United Parcel Service. Place a telephone order - 1-877-832-6077 for a UPS delivery.
Wendt and Kühn Grünhainichen Musician Angels - and a Special Place to Store Them
This year we have significantly expanded our offerings of Wendt and Kühn Angels, especially the orchestra musician Angels.
In 1923 Grete Wendt sketched the first three of her angels - each with eleven white dots on their little green wings. They were:
The Angel with a Candle, The Angel with a Violin, and the Angel with a Flute.
We now carry these and a total of 25 of the Musician Angels, and are pleased to also offer the wonderful Grünhainichen Angel Slumber Vault.
The Slumber Vault is a superb place to keep your Wendt and Kuhn Grünhainichen Angels - the musicians and more. The vault stores 36 angels with compartments of various sizes, including a larger compartment to accommodate the grand piano. Grünhainichen Angels - stand alone and ornaments - are pictured along all four sides of the vault.
Click here for our Wendt and Kühn Pinterest Board.
