Exhibited November 25, 2005 - January 8, 2006 .
19th-Century Ornaments and Decorations
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 feather tree created by Rick Finn
Closeup of the "fantasy" tree.
Note the anchor and the two candle shades.
From Rick Finn.
(Close-up) Wire wrapped ornament.
From the Gregories.
Note the pink feather tree.
Wire wrapped birds in nest and spider. From Rick Finn.
Dresden Tree. From he Gregories.
Dresden feathertree. Close-up of the rabbit.
Dresden elephant ornament.
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.
