Antique and Vintage Christmas Lights

Christmas tree lighting dates to 17th century Germany, when wax was melted to tree branches to hold candles to illuminate specific ornaments. In 1882, Edward Johnson, an assistant to Thomas Edison, designed the first set of electric tree lights, which became popular in department store displays. It wasn't until the introduction of safety light strings in 1917, however, that household tree lighting took off, spawning innumerable combinations of colors, shapes, sizes, and figural lights.

Show & Tell

Vintage Noma 1940 Large 9 1/2 C Bulb I/O Xmas Light Set - Christmasby JSmed
in Christmas
1940's vintage General Electric c7 christmas bulbs - Christmasby DCB
in Christmas
My 1948 Noma C6 series wired Christmas lights in original Box - Christmasby DCB
in Christmas
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Interviews & Articles

Vintage Christmas Ornaments, From Cardboard Dresdens to Silvered Kugels

About 42 years ago, my wife, Darla, went to a very large white elephant sale and found a box of antique Christmas ornaments. She t… [more]

The Charms of Christmas Ephemera and the Changing Face of Santa Claus

I grew up in a home without any antiques. As a small kid, I started decorating my parents’ home for Christmas. I don’t know what i… [more]

A History of Dimestore Christmas Village Houses

The following is a history of these wondrous little artifacts called cardboard Christmas village houses - a history devoted to est… [more]

A Guide to Christmas Antiques and Vintage Christmas Decorations

Ever wonder about that box of vintage Christmas decorations in the attic? From wooden nutcrackers to glass Christrmas tree ornamen… [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Papa Teds Place

Papa Teds Place

Theodore H. Althof, Jr's beautiful collection of vintage dimestore cardboard Christmas 'putz' village houses. Start… [read review or visit site]

Antique Christmas Lights Museum

Antique Christmas Lights Museum

George Nelson's incredibly detailed chronicle of vintage Christmas tree lighting. Browsable by decade and special t… [read review or visit site]

Bohemian Christmas Decorations

Bohemian Christmas Decorations

This simple site showcases over 500 artistic Gablonz glass bead antique and vintage Christmas tree ornaments, made … [read review or visit site]

Old Soviet Christmas Cards

Old Soviet Christmas Cards

This site showcases over 1000 old Soviet Christmas and New Years cards from 1950 to 1990. Browse through page after… [read review or visit site]



Other Great Reference Sites: Christmas

Top eBay Auctions

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