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Beautiful Antiques
Unusual Collectibles

Featuring over
80 dealers Antiques
11,000 square feet
on 2 floors Open 7 Days 10am-5pm
Visit the most active group shop in Marketplace
Central New England and browse
our extensive selection of quality, 20,000 Sq Ft
affordable antiques. 4 Floors
150 Dealers
Gift Certificates Available
375 Dealer Spaces

WINTER SALE

December 26th thru February 28th

Open New Year’s Day
• Porcelain • Silver • Glass • Ephemera • Furniture • Art
• Textiles • Tools • Primitives • Toys • Metals • Books • Postcards
• Sporting • Clothing • Jewelry & much more!
Come visit Putnam, CT.
128 Charlton Rd., (Rt. 20) Great Antiquing & Restaurants!
Sturbridge, MA 01566 109 Main St. Putnam, CT 06260
(Next door to Wal-Mart Plaza) 860-928-0442
508-347-2744 Hours: Wednesday-Monday 10am -5pm
Closed Tuesday
www.SturbridgeAntiqueShops.com
Facebook/Antiques Marketplace
Continued from page 30
pudding! By the mid-twentieth century, door- Pull Out The Holiday Albums!
to-door caroling had received a major boost And then there are the record albums.
with the widespread distribution of Christmas Caroling recordings by top stars of the 1950s
carol pamphlets, containing all the words and and ‘60s remain the gifts that keep on giving
music of beloved holiday hits. Usually, the (and giving and giving) decades after their
pamphlets were free, “presented with the debut. Few stars could resist putting their own
compliments of” whichever advertiser was musical stamp on holiday standards, with
featured on the back cover. You hummed the some (like Andy Williams, Mitch Miller and
melodies at church. You sang the songs at his “Sing-Along” gang, and the Lennon
school. Now, there was no excuse not to pile Sisters), showing up before the first snowfall.
on the parkas, brave the wintry winds, and The result: an annual avalanche of Christmas
start vocalizing. albums on everyone’s turntables.
Decorative items with Christmas caroling Caroling compilations were particularly
themes also swept America, as apt symbols of popular. Imagine – all your favorite artists on
the season. There were joyous ceramic carolers, They sing, and they skate! one Christmas LP! At the top of the stack:
angelic wall hanging carolers, assorted blow Fabric “Skating Carolers” by Byers’ Choice. annual releases by tire companies Goodyear
mold, candle, and fabric carolers, a brimming and Firestone. Goodyear’s first album, which
Santa’s sleigh, and more. Since almost all were mass-produced, the hit the record racks in 1961, was a sellout; 100,000 copies were
majority of these vintage decorations can still be yours for a song. snapped up by Thanksgiving.
The most prevalent caroler figurines of the era were ceramic. The Someday soon, the time will again be right for door-to-door
bright colors and clever execution of even the least expensive ceramic Christmas caroling. Until then, gather ‘round the piano, and let
pieces made their holly-ness and jolly-ness well-nigh irresistible. your hearts be warmed by memories of crisp winter nights … a gentle
Contributing to that irresistibility was the introduction of airbrushing. snowfall … and caroling under the stars.
The facial features of early ceramics were brushed on by hand, which Merry Christmas!
meant only the most skilled artist could achieve the depth and shading
necessary to simulate reality. With the advent of airbrush painting in Donald-Brian Johnson is the co-author
the late 1940s, it became much easier to achieve a “natural” look, since of numerous Schiffer books on design and
the nozzle of an airbrush paint sprayer could be adjusted as needed. collectibles, including Postwar Pop, a collection
This proved particularly handy in depicting the sparkling eyes and rosy of his columns. Please address inquiries (or
complexions of holiday carolers. Christmas greetings) to: donaldbrian@msn.com
Additional caroling keepsakes to treasure are copies of sheet music Photo Associate: Hank Kuhlmann
and those once-complimentary carol pamphlets. Arranged about the
house, along a mantel, or on the music rack of a piano or organ, holiday Title image: At left: Even the dog wants to sing
paper goods are, of course, an eye-catching prompt for at-home along! Six-piece ceramic caroler set, marked “Briggs—
sing-alongs. Holland Mold.” At right: In the solo spot:
freckle-faced ceramic boy caroler.
32 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles