For many years I’ve collected vintage Santa figures and tree ornaments. As a result I quite often received them as hostess gifts or under the tree on Christmas morning. Of the dozens of pieces in my collection there was one little guy that always made me feel a bit uneasy. His robe was not the traditional red or even the Victorian purple, but rather a dirty brown trimmed in ratty fur and his facial expression looked as though he had just finished sucking on a lemon. But, he was a gift from a dear friend so I hung him on the tree (rather towards the back). Then, one day I stumbled upon a picture or him on the internet and realized he wasn’t a Santa at all, he was a Belsnickel!
According to German folklore the Belsnickel (taken from the German word “belzen”, meaning to wallop) visited the homes of children a few days before Christmas to see who had been naughty and who had been nice. He carried with him a bag filled with cakes, candy and nuts in one hand and a switch in the other. Ill-mannered children were struck with the stick and children who had been well behaved received a treat. This gave the naughty little ones a chance to redeem themselves before Christmas Eve and thus receive presents from St. Nicholas. The tradition of the Belsnickel followed immigrants from Northern Germany to the U.S. in the 1800s where he is still a part of the Christmas traditions in homes throughout Pennsylvania, Indiana and other states with large German communities.
Collectors have a special interest in pieces made in Sonneberg, Thuringia, Germany. These two-mold papier-mache and composition pieces were hand formed and elaborately decorated from 1870 until the start of World War I. These are most commonly made in white with a rare purple or brown surfacing from time to time. Sizes range from one inch to two feet in height. The smaller ones will have a small metal attachment on the top so it can be hung on a Christmas tree. The majority of these will be marked “Germany.”
With the onset of World War I the materials needed by the German Belsnickel industry became scarce and many of the factories and molds needed were destroyed. When manufacturing resumed the Belsnickels were made of thin cardboard and stapled together. Serious collectors have little to no interest in these post-war issues.
Collectors watch for Belsnickels with unusual facial expressions. Commonly they are found with their tongue protruding and on rare occasion they will snarling so that their teeth are exposed. Some of the most valuable ones may be wearing a mask or an unusual headpiece or have a beard fashioned from icicles rather than hair. Most will have their hand tucked inside their coat which is often covered with mica glitter or in some cases real fur. Colors range from red and deep shades of purple to blues and greens and in rare cases, brown. Sizes range from 2-8 inches for ornaments and 14-36 inches for candy containers. The containers from 24-36 inches are most likely old store displays.
High quality reproductions have flooded the market that are fooling even avid collectors. Some of these are made from original molds and while they are aesthetically appealing, their price should reflect their age. To assure that you are not overpaying for a Belsnickel always work with an knowledgeable dealer or auction house. Until next time . . . Linda
Linda Kennett is a professional liquidation consultant specializing in down-sizing for seniors and may be reached at 317-258-7835 or lkennett@indy.rr.com
