Page 19 - JOA 12-20

best-selling line of toilet brushes, and berries, had been joined by painted
its “Silver Pine Brush Tree” glass ornaments, both imports and
utilized the same basic stylistic con- domestic. Whether ball-shaped,
cept and machinery. This may star-shaped, cone-shaped, or
explain why it never really caught on.) any-shape-imaginable, these
When the swinging 1960s swung are the colorfully
in, so did the “flocked” tree. The fragile bits of
intended overall effect was that of a Christmas cheer that
snow-covered moonlit evergreen, baby boomers treas-
enhanced by hundreds of tiny ure. “Theme” trees
twinkle lights peeping through (all red bows; all
artificial snow. White flocking was designer ornaments; all
the norm, but eerily phosphores- single-hued oversize
cent blue trees and Pepto-Bismol globes) may have had
pink ones also had their fans. their day in the
Home flocking kits were available decorating sun, but
for ambitious folk with plenty of Bijoux tree with candles, $40-60 the most popu-
patience (and plenty of clean-up lar Christmas
help). Fortunately, for the less skilled, pre-flocked trees were on trees—and cer-
tainly the most
sale everywhere.
Another staple of the 1960s and early ‘70s was the silvery vivid source
aluminum tree with pom-pom branches. The aluminum tree came materials for
with built-in disadvantages, which limited its longevity. First off, it Christmas tree
couldn’t tolerate electric bulbs against all that metal. Additionally, pins—are the trees where
aluminum trees not only looked lightweight, they were light- decorating imagination ran
weight, thus prone to tipping. This meant they wouldn’t deliciously rampant.
hold many ornaments. The aluminum tree was more a Jeweled flower tree,
modern-age idea of a tree, rather than anything remotely or Pining For Pins unmarked, $10-15
realistically tree-like. But still, under a rotating color wheel, it Although Victorian jewelry included some
looked terrific. tree brooches, the first mass-produced Christmas tree pins stretched
Early trees were illuminated with candles, but today their branches skyward in the 1940s.
only determined firebugs would brave that option. In That came courtesy of such manu-
the late 1800s, the candles were affixed to the tree facturers as Weiss, Hobé, and
branches with melted wax. Candleholders came into use Hollycraft. However, the pins
in the 1890s. Edward Johnson, a Thomas Edison achieved their greatest popularity
employee, first brightened a tree with electric bulbs in during the 1950s and ‘60s, when
1882, but for several decades the process was too cum- nostalgia for Christmases past was
bersome and costly for home use. overlaid with a “modern” artistic
Then, in 1917, Albert Sadacca, (just 15 at the interpretation of that nostalgia.
time), invented the “safety Christmas light,” Since Christmas tree pins were
prompted by a candle-lit tree tragedy in New York. essentially costume rather than fine
Albert’s invention became the cornerstone of jewelry, almost every costume jewelry
the NOMA Electric Company, the world’s design firm included at least several
largest supplier of holiday lighting, and leading tree pins in its inventory. In addition
manufacturer of those big bulbs fondly to the early seedlings of the ‘40s,
remembered from the ‘50s. other prominent pinmakers of the
Another ‘50s favorite: “bubble lights,” times included Eisenberg, Gerry’s
tubes of fluid attached to globular plastic Swarovski 2005 Rockefeller Center Creations, J.J. (Jonette Jewelry), Art,
lighted bases, which called to mind the tree, $100-125 Lisner, Monet, and Mylu. Soon,
"tree candles" of earlier eras. While the however, everyone was whirling
first tubes sometimes leaked or refused aboard the Christmas tree pinwheel. Hattie Carnegie and Liz
to produce bubbles, less trouble- Claiborne designed Christmas tree pins. So did Miriam
prone modern versions have enjoyed Haskell, and (for a limited Franklin Mint edition) Kenneth J.
a resurgence. Lane. The tree trend has continued into the present, with
“Twinkle lights” arrived rela- new names, including Swarovski, Tancer-II, Kirks Folly,
tively late in the game, first capti- Gale & Friends, Lunch at the Ritz, and many more
vating consumers in the 1960s. joining the roster. Pin designers face the heady
Their tiny size focused attention challenge of adapting their individual stylings
on the illumination, rather to the depiction of a single common theme: the
than on the bulb – sort of what Christmas tree. Some realizations are traditional,
Martin Luther had in mind in some abstract, but variety ensures their seemingly
the first place. limitless collectability.
Of course, twinkling lights Like the full-size trees they represent,
and abundant greenery can Christmas tree pins twinkle and shimmer,
only go so far in transforming a though the effect here is due to rhinestones,
tree. Décor adds the defining crystals, or other brilliants, rather than by way
touch. Apples, gilded candies, of electric lights and shiny ornaments.
twists of colored paper, and Application of these sparklers marks the final step in
even flowers were all early versions of the creation of a metal Christmas tree pin, which is
Christmas tree ornamentation. By the early 20th century,
homespun eyecatchers, such as strings of popcorn and Metropolitan Museum abstract white rhinestone tree, $30-40

December 2020 17
Art tree with sweeping branches, $20-30