St. Nicholas on Green, Red, and Silver Topper with Silver Bells

10 1/2” tall; ¾” opening at base of glass spire

SPECIAL FEATURES

St. Nicholas as been revered for almost a millennia in the Western world as the original Santa Claus. Wondering if it would be appropriate to consider this topper of St. Nicholas as an Irish ornament, I googled St. Nicholas, Ireland, and was surprised to find that a recent discovery made by Abbot Mark Patrick Hederman places his grave in Newtown Jerpoint, Co Kilkenny - Ireland. Born in 260 AD in a coastal town in what is now called Turkey, St. Nicholas had compassion for the poor, especially children. Rumor has it that he threw three bags of gold down a poor man’s chimney for his daughter’s dowry; hence the beginning of the tradition of Santa Claus. Therefore this long explanation merits St. Nicholas as even dearer to your heart if you are partial to St. Patrick’s day and Irish ornaments

For a red and green themed ornament, I chose this mid-century sturdy glass topper - with its original glass bells and decorative twisted wire - to go with a beautiful antique embossed die-cut illustration of kindly St. Nicholas in formal bishop’s attire, and added vintage rhinestones and antique gold lace to make him even more regal. Topper was then festooned with a deluxe variety of antique gold and silver trims, including Dresden paper borders, and metallic cording. Old-stock lametta tinsel sparkles from the top of the spire, as was traditional for this style of topper.

Lovingly handcrafted and signed by Gail Giaimo.

JUST IMAGINE, YOU ARE VIEWING AN ORNAMENT MADE WITH MATERIALS BETWEEN 60 AND 150 YEARS OLD!!! Dresden Star Ornaments are almost exclusively made 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. Since many of our creations contain glass ornaments that are as much as 120 years old, the condition and patina will vary, which this is part of their vintage one-of-a-kind charm and character. Items described as “antique” are dated between the 1870s and 1920. Items described as “vintage” are dated between the 1920s and the 1950s (mid-century). We also use newer Dresden trims (on occasion) and crinkle wire (to wire-wrap ornaments for durability) made more recently in Germany using techniques and equipment that have not changed over the past 150 years.

OUR SIGNATURE STYLE - TO MAKE AN ORNAMENT FOR YOU THAT LASTS FOR GENERATIONS! You will know you have a ultra-custom Dresden Star Work of Art because we sign and date each and every ornament, as well as add our gold hang tag with your specific ornament’s unique one-of-a-kind inventory number on it. You will receive your ornament gently packed between layers of tissue paper in a beautiful embossed gold box with care and handling instructions. With over 15 years of experience, we are expert at wire-wrapping each ornament to help protect it against accidental breakage (just like those smart Victorians). We take extra time and pains to meticulously back every scrap to cardstock and old-stock papers to protect these beautiful and fragile illustrations so they will last for generations to come.