Bertoia Auctions – The Holiday Exclusive Auction
December 13th 2024
BertoiaAuctions.com
2141 Demarco Drive Vineland NJ 08360

VINELAND, N.J. — Wishes will be granted for many collectors on December 13 when the Bertoia family opens its auction-gallery doors to an array of holiday antiques, from museum-quality German Christmas treasures to whimsical jack-o’-lanterns and endearing Easter bunnies. While the original plan had been to incorporate holiday antiques into Bertoia’s November 22-23 annual fall auction, the abundance of holiday consignments entrusted to Bertoia’s for that sale made it abundantly clear that the specialty category should have its own dedicated event. As a result, a Friday, December 13, date was chosen for a separate auction exclusively devoted to premium-quality holiday antiques.

The display rooms and showcases will be decked out in antique Christmas finery, with an assortment of German hand-painted belsnickles, figural candy containers, Santas in sleighs, charming Dresdens, shimmering glass ornaments, feather trees, games and playthings.

A Victorian-era classic, Schoenhut’s larger version of its “Christmas Morning” moving picture combines all of the visual imagery associated with an old-fashioned family Christmas. Its mechanical action causes each of the characters around the candlelit tree to engage in various activities. A little boy plays his new drum, while his older brother rides a rocking horse and their sister cuddles her doll. Grandpa rocks the baby on his knee while Mother tends to tree ornaments, and even Santa plays a cameo role, popping up to peek through the window. Sized 7¾ inches by 13½ inches, this Christmas antique by a Philadelphia toy manufacturer is estimated at $6/9,000.

Nearly two dozen Christmas candy containers will cross the auction block, led by a gigantic blue-coat Santa with a fur beard. Standing 30 inches tall, the figure is laden with accessories, holding a feather tree in one hand, toting a basket of Christmas gifts attached to his belt, and more. This piece was previously purchased in the saleroom at a Golden Glow of Christmas Past convention. Its auction estimate is $5/8,000.

When Santa isn’t airborne in a sleigh over the North Pole, he can be seen crossing the tundra on a reindeer. That image is perfectly captured in a German candy container depicting Santa in a long red coat riding an antlered friend. The glass-eyed reindeer is every bit as charming and suitably outfitted as his master, showing off a “jeweled” bridle and collar. Its body separates at the upper torso for candy retrieval This holiday duo is expected to sell for $2,5/4,500.

Large and unusual, a 9-inch-long Santa-head lantern is molded and has an expressive face with ice-blue eyes and a partially open mouth revealing teeth. Its estimate is $1,5/2,500.

Another very attractive interpretation of Santa is captured in a large die-cut showing the holiday gift-giver with two children, holding a walking stick and standing on a snow mound. Measuring nearly 3 feet tall, this die-cut is capable of being suspended or displayed as a standee ($2/3,000).

Some of the most outstanding of all Christmas artistry is seen in late Nineteenth Century games. One of the premier manufacturers of that period was McLoughlin Bros. Bertoia’s December 13 auction features the company’s circa 1899 production known as Game Of Tobogganing At Christmas. Reflecting its title, the imagery on the game box lid shows children rushing down a snowy hill on their toboggans while others collaborate to build a snowman. The set includes the game board, two spinners and two tokens ($2/4,000).

One of the auction’s top lots is an Erzgebirge gondola-style Grande Noah’s Ark that was hand-constructed between 1850 and 1860. It has a hand-painted frieze, pegged construction and carved lines on its hull to simulate curved planks. What makes it extra special is its assortment of 230 rare hand-carved and flocked animals, birds and figures. It is one of only two such arks known to Bertoia’s with that many flocked animals, the other being on display at the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia ($10/15,000).

Skittles sets are always welcome at auctions of holiday antiques because there are so many crossover collectors who appreciate German artistry in its various forms. It will be hard for them to resist a skittles set consisting of a recumbent glass-eyed German shepherd with crossed paws, pricked ears and an alert expression. The handsome 22-inch-long canine safeguards a set of original hand-painted ninepins formed as figures of various animals and a clown. Measuring 22 inches long, it is estimated at $3/5,000.

Bertoia’s gallery is at 2141 DeMarco Drive. An open preview will be conducted daily during normal business hours the week prior to the sale. Preview privately by appointment only. For information, 856-692-1881 or www.bertoiaauctions.com.

Christmas/Halloween/More
Bidding in the auction is easy and fun!
All shipping is done in-house to assure everything is handled with care. Auction attendance by reservation. Please contact our office to RSVP.
Auction details at BertoiaAuctions.com
1. Short auction registration for first time bidders; online or by phone.
2. Submit absentee bids by mail, phone, or online, telephone proxy bid live during the auction, or bid live on the computer and watch the sale.
3. Download our Bertoia LIVE! app to your phone for fast and fun bidding.
Hosting the finest specialized auctions since 1986. Accepting quality consignments 2141 Demarco Drive Vineland NJ 08360 Toys@BertoiaAuctions.com 856-692-1881
We welcome you to attend one of our auctions in person. But we realize it can be hard to get away sometimes. That is why all Bertoia Auctions are simulcasted with a live webcam so you can hear and see the auctioneer and feel the action.