Blue German Father Christmas in Large Antique Paper Basket with Pink Rose

10” tall, including beaded handle

SPECIAL FEATURES

I gave this original Victorian paper basket some extra pizzazz by adding my own personal touches and trims. The basket was originally hand-painted gold over orange; and I love that shabby-chic look. Designing around it I added Silver Dresden paper stars and papers, antique gold Dresden paper border, vintage lace (on either side of the original wired tinsel trim), and put a beautiful full-blown antique scrap rose boldly in the center. I preserved the original crepe paper rimming the top of the border and added a second row of coral-pink antique crepe paper with a pinked edge. This fabulous antique Santa iin blue coat was a perfect companion to the basket, as he was missing his legs! I decided that multicolored vintage beads threaded on a wire would be a fun choice for a handle to tie the colors of the ornament together.

Lovingly handcrafted and signed by Gail Giaimo.

THIS ONE-OF-A-KIND ORNAMENT IS MADE ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY WITH ANTIQUE AND VINTAGE MATERIALS to include: glass ornaments from the 1890s to1950s, most of which were made in Germany; colorful Victorian embossed & die-cut paper “scraps” and chromolithographs from postcards and advertising trade cards, made in Europe between the 1870s and 1910; antique and vintage fabric to include chenille, lace, ribbon and metallic trims; antique and vintage tinsel from tree garlands and old-stock German-made Lametta tinsel; gold and silver old-stock Dresden paper trims, crepe paper, foil, gift wrap, spun glass, and other embellishments. Items described as “antique” are dated between 1870 and the early 1900s (prior to WWI). Items described as “vintage” are dated between 1915 (WWI) and the 1950s (mid-century). We also use Dresden trims (only on occasion) and crinkle wire (always used for durability) made more recently in Germany using techniques and equipment that have not changed over the past 150 years.