Vintage Christmas Decorations That Are Very Valuable
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Finally getting around to cleaning out the attic? Before you toss out Grandma's collection of brass reindeer and plastic lawn Santas, make sure they're not worth a fortune.
Vintage Christmas decorations turn into valuable collectibles over time. If you have any of these decorations, consider yourself lucky.
71. Department 56 Gingerbread House
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Value: $230
Bottom line: The beauty of a quaint country town covered in snow is a universal daydream for everyone living in a big city. In 1976, a group of friends realized that their picturesque country Christmas would look just as beautiful in miniature form, and so Department 56 was born.
The company soon released a series of tiny, illuminated ceramic buildings that became popular collector's items. This one was made in 2008 and was sold on eBay in its original box.
70. Department 56 National Lampoon Christmas Vacation Griswold Holiday House
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Value: $235.24
Bottom line: We're still trying to figure out how the Griswolds were able to afford such a massive house, but we'd be lying if we pretended not to love how it looks covered in snow.
Department 56 caught on to the idea of remaking the iconic mansion in the 1990s after the movie became a big hit, and they couldn't keep their tiny reproduction in stock. It has since turned into a valuable collectible.
69. Vintage 2001 Grandeur Noel Bethlehem Village Collector's Edition
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Value: $249
Bottom line: This gorgeous nativity scene was carefully stored for two decades after being displayed on one single occasion. Because it was kept in such pristine condition and has no missing pieces or cracks, the set has retained its value and then some.
The set was sold with a set of new lights and the original box.
68. Vintage Mid Century Christmas Church Cathedral
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Value: $249.99
Bottom line: This vintage Christmas cathedral was made in the 1950s or 1960s.
It's mostly white to give the illusion of a blanket of heavy snow covering the church and filling the yard with a soft, warm glow from the lights inside.
67. Vintage Peanuts Gang Christmas Tree Decoration
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Value: $255.21
Bottom line: The gang's all here. This vintage Peanuts decoration is cute as can be.
Made by Hallmark in the 1990s and designed by Danbury, the rare Christmas decoration features working colored lights and all of the Peanuts characters gathering around to decorate a tiny tree.
66. Vintage Merry Christmas Blow Mold Yard Decoration
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Value: $260
Bottom line: Blow mold decorations were extremely popular in the 1980s and 1990s. This one resembles a stack of presents bidding passersby a friendly "Merry Christmas."
It was designed by Don Featherstone, one of the most well-known blow mold designers, and sold in good condition aside from some slight paint loss.
65. Vintage Lighted Christmas Fireplace Decoration
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Value: $272.51
Bottom line: A vintage styrofoam piece, this rare Christmas decoration is truly massive. It's almost three feet wide and over two feet tall, resembling a festive fireplace with a reindeer warming his little hooves by the fire.
The decoration was acquired at an estate sale and sold for nearly $300, despite needing a thorough cleaning.
63. Vintage Peanuts Snoopy Santa Christmas Blow Mold Decoration (Tie)
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Value: $299.99
Bottom line: Watching Snoopy and Woodstock celebrate Christmas with Charlie Brown and his sad-looking tree is such a strong tradition that some folks are willing to shell out hundreds to recreate the magic on their front lawn.
This vintage Snoopy blow mold Christmas decoration stands nearly three feet tall. It was never displayed outside, so the lucky buyer got a nearly new Snoopy collectible with minimal wear and beautifully preserved paint.
63. Vintage Department 56 Christmas at Ashby Manor Dickens' Village Series (Tie)
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Value: $299.99
Bottom line: This glowing Christmas house is one of the more valuable Department 56 collectibles, in part due to its unique design. It was made in 2005, and it rose in value after the company discontinued production.
Look closely and you can see tiny people dancing within an illuminated glass atrium.
62. Santa in Chimney Night Light
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Value: $310
Bottom line: Santa won't be able to find your house without a little light to guide him. This vintage Christmas decoration will do the trick, but for a price.
Made in 1986 by Old World Christmas, the hand-painted glass decoration functions as a festive night light. Even after several decades, the light still works and the original box was included with the purchase.
60. Vintage Sylvania Santa's Train Christmas Decoration (Tie)
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Value: $329.99
Bottom line: In the 1990s, you couldn't drive down a single street around the holidays without passing at least one rope light decoration display. This one, made by Sylvania, was supposed to be Santa's train toting presents for good little boys and girls.
Originally sold at Shopko stores, the rare Christmas decoration includes a controller to adjust the speed of the chasing motion lights and the original box.
60. Mr. Christmas Mickey's Clock Shop Music Animated Decoration (Tie)
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Value: $332.99
Bottom line: If Disney collectibles weren't popular enough, this one throws Christmas into the mix. Produced in 1993, Christmas Mickey's Clock Shop Animated Decoration plays music and originally had working pendulums.
While the decoration was never taken out of the box, the seller mentioned that the animated features may not work due to age. Despite the fact that the toy might not actually function, it sold for over $300.
59. 1930s Pink and White House
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Value: $337
Bottom line: Miniatures are a recurrent theme in collectors' circles. This tiny pink and white house was made in Japan in the 1930s, complete with tiny sponge trees and a little girl holding a doll.
It was likely first sold in a five-and-dime store in the States, used to create an illuminated miniature village under the Christmas tree.
58. Vintage Santa Face Empire Blow Mold
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Value: $343.14
Bottom line: Love Santa so much that you'd like a giant shrine of his face illuminated in the yard? Poke around on eBay enough, and you might find another version of this vintage Santa blow mold Christmas decoration.
The giant three-foot head is definitely a statement piece, likely dating back to the 1970s.
55. 48 Brass Sleigh Bells on 85-Inch Leather Strap (Tie)
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Value: $350
Bottom line: Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? Of all the collectible Christmas decorations we dug up, this one might be the coolest.
It's a set of 48 vintage sleigh bells sewn onto an 85-inch leather strap dating back to the 1800s. They don't make sleigh bells that sound quite like these do anymore.
55. Vintage Wooden Christmas Nutcracker (Tie)
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Value: $350
Bottom line: Nutcrackers range in price from a few dollars to hundreds. Hand-painted ones command the highest prices, and vintage nutcrackers like this one are worth the most.
55. Vintage Empire Toy Soldier Blow Molds (Tie)
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Value: $350
Bottom line: Is your name Clara? Do you have nightmares about giant ballet-dancing rats attacking your house on Christmas Eve?
Just buy some vintage toy soldiers to guard the yard. These 14 blow mold soldiers will gladly guard your home for the low price of $350.
54. 12 Strands of Vintage Mercury Glass Christmas Decorations
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Value: $365.99
Bottom line: Beaded glass garlands were commonly used to decorate Christmas trees in the 1960s. Several strands are needed to cover an entire tree, especially if you're going for a draped look.
This set of 12 glass garlands from the 1940s is more than enough, as long as you don't mind spending nearly $400 for a nice-looking tree.
53. Rare Vintage 1950 Noma Christmas Lights Catalogue
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Value: $372
Bottom line: The amazing part about this eBay product is that it didn't include a single real decoration — just the catalog selling them.
Just by the style of illustration, you can tell the catalog is old. It was published in 1950 to advertise 26 pages of Noma Christmas lights, from outdoor sets to tree toppers and other illuminated Christmas decorations.
It was sold with a split in the spine and some wear around the edges, but that must have added to the charm for whoever spent $372 to add it to their collection.
52. Vintage Ceramic Volcano Christmas Tree Decoration
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Value: $400
Bottom line: Made in 1978, this style of decoration was very common at the time.
Made of white ceramic with metallic gold accents, the vintage tree decoration featured working orange lights that heavily exude '70s vibes.
Doesn't it look like something Kitty from "That '70s Show" would buy?
51. 1996 Christmas Porcelain Santa Claus
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Value: $428
Bottom line: A brand-new collectible Christmas decoration from the 1990s is worth an impressive amount.
This one, made by Buchase in 1996, is made of fine porcelain with hand-painted gold detailing and sold for over $400.
50. Vintage 1970s Christmas Santa Sleigh
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Value: $459.95
Bottom line: This festive Santa blow mold, featuring the jolly old saint in his sleigh pulled by two old-fashioned reindeer, was made by Carolina Enterprises in 1977.
Despite having a few patches with scratched paint, the lights are still in working condition and the vintage Christmas decoration sold for over $450.
49. Vintage Mid-Century Mercury Glass Cloche
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Value: $475
Bottom line: This just goes to show that trends always repeat themselves. Glass cloches like this one are easily found at stores like Homegoods and Crate and Barrel, but it's the vintage version that's worth a pretty penny.
Shaped like an oval perched on a piece of wood, this intriguing decoration is like a miniature Christmas world in a bubble. All the bright colors exude fun 1960s vibes that today's decorations can't quite match.
48. Rare '80s/'90s Barcana 23-Inch Fiberglass Santa Claus
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Value: $475.95
Bottom line: Even Santa Claus needs a nap now and again. Instead of napping at the North Pole, this vintage fiberglass Santa decided to use the crescent moon as a hammock.
The entire Christmas decoration measures 23 inches in length and was made to hang on the wall. It's very hard to find decorations like this without chips or cracks, but this one sold in nearly perfect condition.
47. Old 1930s 7-Inch German Belsnickle Composition Santa
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Value: $479.99
Bottom line: In the 1930s, the majority of holiday decorations were made in Germany. The Belsnickle company developed their own style, made of painted cardboard or paper mache.
This one functions as a candy container and is decorated with a felt coat and hat and a rabbit fur beard. Today, using real animal fur would be frowned upon, but it was a common practice when the decoration was produced.
46. Vintage Ceramic Christmas Tree With Blue Doves
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Value: $485
Bottom line: Ceramic Christmas trees came in a plethora of colors and styles. Most of them, including this rare Christmas decoration, were shaped like pine trees, but this one featured a lovely pearlescent finish and blue lighted doves on each branch.
While the item had no chips at the time of sale, it did have minor cracks in the finish, consistent with the item's age.
45. Vintage Christmas Santa Railroad
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Value: $489.99
Bottom line: This vintage Christmas decoration might not look like much, but to a seasoned collector, it's a treasure.
Measuring approximately 22 inches x 20 inches x 14 inches, the old blow mold decoration has some scuffs and paint wear, along with a few holes drilled near the bottom to allow for water to drain out if the decoration is used outside.
Even with these imperfections, someone was willing to spend almost $500 on it.
44. Spun Cotton Heubach Boy German Christmas Decoration
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Value: $495
Bottom line: At first glance, this antique German Christmas decoration looks to be made of ceramic or paper mache.
Upon closer inspection, however, you'll see that it's actually composed of strands of colored cotton, compacted together to form an impressively detailed little boy wearing a red and white Santa coat and hat.
43. Vintage Blow Mold Empire Christmas Decorations
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Value: $500
Bottom line: Nativity scenes never go out of style. This blow mold scene was made by Empire in the 1970s or 1980s and sold for $500, even without a single wise man included.
42. Antique Christmas Tree Angel
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Value: $535.06
Bottom line: Dolls are popular collector's items, and this Christmas doll is no exception.
The eight-inch fairy doll was made by Hartmann Germany and is wearing a beautifully detailed dress decorated with metal tinsel and holding a metal wand.
Her blonde hair has some discoloration, but she still sold for over $500 thanks to her classic Victorian look.
41. Large Vintage Ceramic Tree
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Value: $571
Bottom line: Likely made in the 1970s, this vintage ceramic tree has a pearlescent finish and colorful, working lights on all 116 branches.
Few Christmas decorations like this are ever sold in mint condition, so it's no wonder collectors jumped to purchase this one.
It's hard to tell from the picture, but it stands over two feet tall.
40. Spun Cotton Heubach Snowball Description
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Value: $590
Bottom line: Vintage Heubach characters made of spun cotton were among the most coveted Christmas decorations in the early 1900s. This vintage Christmas decoration was made in 1910, and was stowed away in an attic for years before it was listed on eBay.
Featuring three children trying to push a giant snowball, the old collectible had plenty of signs of wear, but it was still tremendously valuable for a collector with a knack for restoration.
39. Vintage Cardboard Christmas Castle
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Value: $595.77
Bottom line: A prime example of a true vintage collectible. This cardboard Christmas castle was made in Japan in the early 20th century. It's in good condition, but has normal signs of aging that are commonly found in authentic antiques.
Some of the windows have discoloration, but you'd be a little discolored two if you were around a century old.
38. Antique Paper Mache Christmas Santa Decoration
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Value: $637.99
Bottom line: One of the oldest Christmas decorations we came across, this paper mache Christmas mask was likely produced by Belsnickle in Germany in the early 1900s.
The antique finish gives away the decoration's age, but that must have been a plus for the person who picked it up for $637.
36. Wallace Silversmith's Silver Christmas Bells (Tie)
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Value: $650
Bottom line: Collectibles come in all shapes and forms. Collectible coins, plates and spoons are common, but collectible silver bells marked with the year they were produced also are popular around the holidays.
One eBay listing offered a set of 27 Wallace Silversmith Silver Christmas Bells with years ranging from 1971 to 2002. Do you think all the bells sound the same, or is each one unique?
We may never know.
36. Vintage Bradford Star Christmas Tree Topper (Tie)
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Value: $650
Bottom line: No Christmas tree is complete without a topper, and this one is as vintage as it gets. The multicolored star made by Bradford Exchange dates back to 1960.
Pieces like this are rarely up for auction, especially in working condition and with the original box and instruction sheet.
35. Large Vintage Ceramic Christmas Tree
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Value: $660
Bottom line: Ceramic trees are a beautiful way to spice up a counter top or mantel, and we have no idea why they went out of stile. This one, made in 1979 by Atlantic Mold, is huge, standing a full two feet tall.
It was also sold with extra lights, which is definitely a perk for an item worth over $600.
34. Department 56 Todd and Margo Jogging Christmas Vacation Figurine
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Value: $675
Bottom line: Department 56 makes more than cute ceramic houses. To go with the houses, there are hundreds of different collectible Christmas figurines, including these little Todd and Margo statuettes from "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" heading out for a jog.
The entire set was a big hit when it was released in the mid-2000s, and even its tiny figurines are worth hundreds.
33. Solid Brass Vintage Deer Decor
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Value: $695
Bottom line: These vintage gold deer decorations might be old, but they could totally blend in with modern Christmas decor.
The set includes a male deer, a female deer and a baby deer, all made of solid brass.
32. Vintage Lighted Ceramic Christmas Tree
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Value: $699
Bottom line: Ceramic Christmas trees were highly sought-after in the 1980s. This one was produced in 1988 by Nowell.
The tree measures 27 inches in height and 18 inches in width, and it's unique in that the light bulbs aren't just shaped like cones.
Some are shaped like poinsettias or birds, and all still worked at the time of sale.
31. Vintage Santa Sleigh Christmas Decoration
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Value: $699.99
Bottom line: Ho, ho, ho! Santa's sleigh has to be awfully large to fit presents for all the children in the world, and this one appears to be almost the right size.
Yet another Christmas blow mold decoration, this one is over three feet long and was picked up at an estate sale. Despite some wear and tear, it sold for almost $700 thanks to its impressive size.
30. Department 56 A Christmas Story Village Hammond Town Hall
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Value: $741.56
Bottom line: As you continue reading, start tallying up how many thousands of dollars it would cost to put together a complete collection of Department 56 "A Christmas Story" pieces.
This one, the thoughtfully designed Hammond Town Hall, has a wreath on every window and two stately Christmas trees framing the doorway.
29. Department 65 Fox Theatre
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Value: $760
Bottom line: Some of the most expensive Christmas collectibles are those that were never supposed to exist. In 2012, Department 56 had the brilliant idea to recreate the Fox Theatre playing "It's a Wonderful Life."
They did a great job designing a mini version that looks just like it did when the movie came out in 1946, but there was one slight problem: Department 56 didn't get the rights to display the "It's a Wonderful Life" title.
They later replaced the title with "Christmas Carol" instead, and the original version is a pain to get ahold of. It's a limited edition with only a few ever sold.
28. Department 56 Empire State Building
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Value: $785
Bottom line: Department 65 has produced a number of special collections, including a "Christmas in the City" collection. It included this sparkling reproduction of the Empire State Building, with hundreds of miniscule windows that light up.
The top of the building even has an illuminated tower that changes color. The version sold was like new, which we'd expect for an item pushing $800.
26. Department 56 Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation: The Department Store (Tie)
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Value: $799.99
Bottom line: Another "Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation" vintage Christmas decoration, the department store has so many details it looks like a real building from a distance. A wreath and garland decorate the front, and the top has realistic smokestacks and half-melted snow.
The item sold was never taken out of the box, but the package did have some minor imperfections acquired during storage.
26. Vintage Empire Blow Mold Nativity Scene (Tie)
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Value: $799.99
Bottom line: One of the most complete nativity scene blow mold sets we've seen, this one was produced in 1995 and includes 11 different pieces. The set sold on eBay in excellent condition, aside from some minor paint wear.
While the manger wasn't included, all of the pieces did come in their original boxes.
25. Rare Department 56 Lighted Mobile Home Christmas Decoration
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Value: $810
Bottom line: Most rare Department 56 items are Christmas houses or buildings. This little Christmas Airstream decoration broke the mold — in a good way.
Department 56 put just as much thought into the details as they do with everything else, and a shiny, snow-covered pine tree and a wreath frame the mobile home's window.
It was retired in 1980, and it's a great find for retirees, or anyone else who's living their best RV life.
24. Department 56 Christmas in the City, '21 Club'
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Value: $856.56
Bottom line: The 2008 Department 56 Christmas in the City collection was one of the most popular collections made by the company. Like all Christmas in the City pieces, the design was inspired by a real building in New York.
In this case, it was designed to look like a famous restaurant and club on West 52nd St. in Manhattan. The upscale eatery is known for having tons of valuable sports memorabilia, and Department 56 captured every detail of it, even the cast-iron lawn jockeys standing guard at the front.
23. Department 56 Hammond Town Tree
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Value: $865
Bottom line: A Christmas village needs a Christmas tree, doesn't it? Department 56 makes many different Christmas tree models, but few are illuminated.
This one, from the "A Christmas Story" collection, runs on watch batteries and works just as well as it did when it came out in 2006.
While the item was used, it sold in like-new condition to one of many bidders.
22. Vintage 7-Foot Aluminum Christmas Tree
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Value: $886
Bottom line: For a solid decade, aluminum Christmas trees were a must-have decoration. Today, they're nearly impossible to find, which explains the astronomical price tag of this vintage eBay listing.
While the original box was in poor condition, the item itself sold in good condition, including the wooden tree trunk, a plastic base and an instruction booklet.
21. Vintage Blow Mold Christmas Decoration Set
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Value: $1,000
Bottom line: Last but not least, we have a set of vintage blow mold Christmas decorations. The listing included nine festive pieces, all Christmas-themed.
Despite not listing details of when the decorations were produced, the set sold for $1,000 with multiple bidders competing to add it to their Christmas collection.
20. Department 56 Grinch Village Music Shop
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Value: $1,018.17
Bottom line: Another Department 56 treasure, the Who-ville Music Shop Grinch Village is rare to the extreme.
Made in 2008, it's not even close to the oldest vintage Christmas decoration, but a limited number of Grinch Village pieces were released.
Fortunately, this one was kept in great condition, including the red horn in front and a working light.
19. Disney Toon Town Light Up Christmas Village
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Value: $1,025
Bottom line: A $1,000 cost sounds extreme for any Christmas decoration, but for a collection of eight vintage Christmas village buildings, it's a steal. Department 56 launched its Disney Toon Town line in the 1990s.
When the Disney fandom and Department 56 world collided, the popular Christmas decoration brand could hardly keep their new collection in stock. The Toon Town collection has since been retired, so finding a complete collection like this one is tricky.
Some are rarer than others, but the complete collection included:
1. Toon Town city hall
2. Goofy’s house
3. Toon town five dime
4. Toon town fire department
5. Mickey’s house
6. Mickey’s fountain
7. Donald’s boat house
8. Roger rabbits house
18. Department 56 Gimbels Department Store
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Value: $1,195
Bottom line: Fans of the movie "Elf" will get a kick out of this one. In the movie, Buddy the Elf takes a job at a giant New York City department store called Gimbels. The store was a real corporation that opened in 1887 and operated for a century, but most people just recognize it from the family-friendly Christmas flick.
Department 56 recreated it in miniature form, and this eBay sale is a perfect example of why you shouldn't be too quick to throw out your family's old "junk." This one was found in the back of a coat closet belonging to the seller's grandma.
17. Vintage Nowell Ceramic Lighted Christmas Tree
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Value: $1,199.99
Bottom line: Ceramic Christmas trees were extremely popular from the 1940s to the 1960s. They came in several colors, but white was the most popular, especially with colored lights.
It's hard to tell from the photo, but this vintage Christmas decoration is over two feet high and 20 inches wide. To add to the rare collectible's value, it's signed by the maker, and all of the lights still work.
16. Department 56 Great Grinchy Trick Figurine
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Value: $1,200
Bottom line: The wild thing about collectibles is that it doesn't matter how small they are. Even the tiniest of items can be valuable to the right collector.
Just take this Department 56 Grinch figurine. He was made in 2013, but even though the original Grinch television special came out in the 1960s, fans rushed to add it to their collection.
The unique figure features the Grinch checking his hair in a real mirror, and the small piece sold for over $1,000.
15. Department 56 Dickens Village Mill
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Value: $1,250
Bottom line: Many Christmas village collections by Department 56 have a very obvious theme — Christmas movies, Disney, New York City, etcetera. This one looks like a rustic mill blanketed with snow, and it's actually part of the Dickens Village collection.
Every piece in the series, this one included, was inspired by the writings of Charles Dickens. The mill was made in 1985, and only 2,500 were produced.
The hand-painted mill was retired just two years later, adding to its value.
14. Antique Christmas Candy Container
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Value: $1,356
Bottom line: Who would guess that a box could be worth over $1,000? This candy container, adorned with holy leaves and a hand painted Santa Claus, is only about eight inches across and two inches tall.
It doesn't look particularly special at first glance, until you realize that it was made by hand in 1911.
13. Department 56 Grandma's Cottage Vintage Decoration
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Value: $1,978
Bottom line: Department 56's Snow Village collection is one of their most popular and timeless lines. This simple, snow-swept house was aptly named "Grandma's Cottage."
It was made in 1992, and it looks every bit as warm and inviting as Grandma's house should. It sold in good condition in its original box for nearly two grand.
12. Department 56 Christmas Bells, Grinch Village
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Value: $2,032.85
Bottom line: Once in a while, even the owner of a rare, vintage Christmas decoration doesn't know its exact worth.
The seller purchased this Grinch Village piece at a Department 56 sample sale, but the name of the piece is unknown. They weren't able to find the same version listed anywhere online, advertising it as a "mystery piece."
They must have been thrilled when the bidding on eBay reached just over $2,000.
11. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Boss Shirley's House
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Value: $2,950
Bottom line: The movie "National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation" had a fair amount of cool architecture, and Department 56 made the most of it.
Another item in their Christmas Vacation line, Boss Shirley's House is one of the nicest looking pieces, with four Grecian columns out front and a shingled roof covered in snow.
Even though it was made in 2015, the rare collectible house sold in like new condition for nearly $3,000.
10. Department 56 North Pole Village, Reindeer Spa
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Value: $3,550
Bottom line: Reindeer need a cozy place to turn in for the night after delivering presents all over the world. Department 56 imagined up this inviting collectible reindeer spa in 2005, intended to go with other pieces from their North Pole Village set.
The reindeer spa is now retired, so even with a damaged box, it sold for a few thousand dollars.
9. Rare Department 56 Who-Ville Figurines
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Value: $4,250
Bottom line: Department 56 Christmas collectibles increase in value the harder they are to find. We were only able to find a single listing for this Who-Ville figurine set, which included both the Grinch and Cindy-Lou Who enjoying a wintery skate.
The buyer must have been a huge Dr. Seuss fan, because the rare set sold for over four grand.
8. Cast Iron Nativity Scene
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Value: $4,500
Bottom line: This vintage Christmas decoration set is most attractive to fine art collectors who can appreciate the craftsmanship of this set. It was made by hand out of cast iron by artist Jan Barboglio.
Each figure is around five inches tall, and they're surprisingly heavy for their size. The entire set weighs over 30 pounds.
Each piece is unique, with subtle color and texture variations resulting from the hammering, sanding and hand-finishing process. This special nativity scene features a distinctive Old Mexico style that's impossible to replicate in mass-produced department store decorations.
7. Pink Evergleam Aluminum Christmas Tree
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Value: $4,550
Bottom line: You already know that aluminum Christmas trees were popular during the 1960s, but did you know they came in a variety of colors? This one, made by Evergleam, is six feet tall and has 55 glittering, light pink branches, plus a spare.
The tree was made in the 1960s and appeared in the second edition of the Evergleam Christmas catalog. While the seller lost the original box, the tree was kept in fine condition and was given an A- rating by a professional appraiser.
6. Vintage Christmas Angel Ceramic Figurines
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Value: $4,696.87
Bottom line: Sometimes, the smallest vintage decorations are the most special. This set of four Christmas angels was made in the 1950s or 1960s, and it shows.
The rounded cherub cheeks painted a rosy red match the style that was popular back then, but the ceramic set was somehow perfectly preserved.
Each four-inch angel has textured snow on the hem of their coats and on the edges of their wings, and there isn't a single chip or crack on any of them.
5. Vintage Empire Blow Mold Wreath
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Value: $4,750
Bottom line: Blow mold Christmas decorations were extraordinarily popular during the 1990s. This particular model was made by Empire in 1995, and it's much larger than it appears in the picture.
It measures 21 inches in diameter, similar to the size of a traditional wreath. Even though the listing didn't include any lights or cords, it sold for nearly $5,000.
4. 48-Inch Tall Life Size Santa
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Value: $4,999.99
Bottom line: If a massive, glowing Santa is more your style, this vintage decoration was made for you. While we wouldn't consider 48 inches to be "life-size," it comes close.
The style of this Santa is decidedly vintage, but there's nothing outdated about all the lights this baby is packing.
The resin statue is filled with hundreds of fiber optic lights, plus 16 bright LED lights. To top it off, the paint used for his jacket is metallic, and the white fur around the hem is adorned with glitter.
3. Antique German Santa and Reindeer
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Value: $5,358
Bottom line: This German Christmas Santa is a true antique. Not even the seller was sure of its age, but it has the same look of the paper mache and wood decorations that were commonly made in the 1930s.
It was likely designed to be a candy container, like many vintage Christmas decorations, but wear and tear has rendered it unusable.
The item sold in dire need of repair, with new leather straps needed on the sleigh, a missing hoof, and a broken left leg on the reindeer. The buyer must have been into restoration projects, because it sold for over $5,000.
2. 57-Inch Life-Size Santa Claus
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Value: $6,250
Bottom line: Santa Claus is probably taller than 57 inches, but how are we to know? Maybe he's as petite as the elves working at his workshop. This (almost) life-sized Santa has a Victorian flavor to it, wearing a floor-length coat with lush fur trim.
The tree beside him is six feet tall, and comes pre-lit so you don't have to bother with lights. The entire display was made with a combination of acrylic and wood, and Santa's wire-framed glasses complete the package.
1. Vintage 1900s Saint Nicholas Santa
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Value: $7,995
Bottom line: Some vintage decorations can only be appreciated by true collectors, and this is a prime example. This Saint Nicholas candy container decoration was made in the early 1900s, featuring a lavender mohair coat and a beard made with real lamb's wool.
The sizeable Santa is almost two feet tall, but his severe expression strikes as less than jolly. Slightly scary, even. That just goes to show that one man's trash is another man's treasure, because we would never have guessed that it was worth thousands of dollars.