Catalog: Popular Collectibles (31)

A rare enameled beaker made as a souvenir of the 1896 coronation of Imperial Russia’s last monarchs, Czar Nicholas II and Czarina Alexandra Feodorovna. One side of the beaker features the Imperial double-headed eagle and the reverse shows the Imperial cipher. The remainder of the body is decorated with traditional Russian strapwork. The beakers were to be given away to the public on the Khodinka field in Moscow. When the gates were opened, there was a great rush to get to the cups, and hundreds of people were trampled to death. Shortly after, the cup became known as the “Blood Cup” or “Cup of Sorrows”. The incident was thought at the time to be a bad omen for the future of the Imperial couple—an estimation that proved unfortunately correct. These beakers are often in very bad condition, but this one is excellent, there's a small ding on the bottom rim that appears to have been in the making since the enamel is completely intact.

Origin: Russia, 1896. Size: 4-1/8" tall.

Early German Halloween candy container featuring a composition black cat perched atop a red paperboard container. The bottom once had a stick-on label of some sort that scuffed up the paper, so there is no longer a “Made in Germany” mark, but this is clearly a German piece. The cat has tons of personality, from crossed eyes to a bright red mouth oddly shaped like human lips. MEEOW!

• Origin: Germany, ca. 1920
• Condition: very good, light paint flaking at the back and tip of one ear
• Dimensions: 3-3/4” tall

A rare composition Halloween candy container in the form of a three-dimensional owl, complete with glass eyes. The container is large enough to hold quite a generous amount of candy!

• Origin: probably Germany, ca. 1920
• Dimension: 4-1/4" tall
• Condition: very good, but some cracking along side seams and a flake at the back edge of the container opening

A rare vintage pressed paper Halloween noisemaker in the form of a carrot. The colors are bright and the mouthpiece retains the reed, so it makes a nice squawky sound. The side has a handwritten price of 10 cents and is faintly marked "Germany."

• Origin: Germany, ca. 1920
• Dimensions: 8" tall
• Condition: excellent, bright color, working

A very nice gilt brass box presented to British soldiers and sailors fighting in World War I. Princess Mary raised funds to provide these tins filled with various combinations of chocolate, notepaper, a bullet-shaped pencil, cigarettes, spices (for Indian troops), etc. Every person serving in the British forces on Christmas Day 1914 eventually received a box, although they were still filling orders in 1916 and those who were prisoners did not receive their boxes until after the end of the war in 1918. The lid is embossed with an image of Princess Mary (daughter of King George V and Queen Mary), the names of the Allied nations and various other images such as laurel wreaths, swords and flags.

Origin: England, 1914. Condition: extremely good, original gilding nearly completely intact. Size: 5-1/8” x 3-3/8” x 1-1/4”.

An outstanding vintage hard plastic Halloween candy container in the form of a jack o'lantern scarecrow on wheels by Rosbro. This particular item is almost always found with the little top piece broken off. The colors are all very bright.

• Origin: America, ca. 1955
• Dimensions: 5-3/4" tall
• Conditions: excellent, completely intact, no cracks

A delightful vintage snowman feather tree topper made of spun cotton batting. He wears a black paper hat and carries and wood walking stick in one hand. Tough made for a feather tree, the size would be appropriate for a small live tree or he could be hung from a thread as an ornament.

• Origin: probably German, ca 1925
• Condition: excellent, all original
• Height: 5-1/8"

A nice vintage pulp jack o'lantern with the original paper insert. The paint is bright.

• Origin: America, ca 1940
• Condition: very good, a dented area over one eye, a crack at the back that appears to be stable, no burn marks
• Dimensions: 4-1/2" tall excluding wire handle

A delightful German Christmas candy container in the shape of a lemon. The container is made from composition then painted and finished with a coat of wax to add a realistic soft sheen. The interior of the pull-out base is marked "Germany."

Origin: Germany, ca. 1910. Condition: excellent. Dimensions: 3.25" x 2.25" x 2.25.".

A delightful German Christmas candy container in the shape of a peach. The container is made from composition then painted and finished with a coat of wax to add a realistic soft sheen. The interior of the pull-out base is marked "Germany." Origin: Germany, ca. 1910. Condition: excellent. Dimensions: 2.25" x 2.25" x 2.25.".

A delightful German Christmas candy container in the shape of an apple. The container is made from composition then painted and finished with a coat of wax to add a realistic soft sheen. A wick is used for the apple's stem. The interior of the pull-out base is marked "Germany."

Origin: Germany, ca. 1910. Condition: very good; a small amount of crackling to the wax only near the blossom end of the apple. Dimensions: 2.25" x 2.25" x 2.25.".

A delightful German Christmas candy container in the shape of a pear. The container was made from composition, then painted and finished with a coat of wax to add a realistic soft sheen. The interior of the pull-out base is marked "Germany."

• Origin: Germany ca. 1910
• Good condition; there is a small nick on the top and a crack extending across the bottom from the opening (it is only in the outer layer and does not go through to the interior
• Dimensions: 3-1/2" x 2-1/2" x 2-1/2"

A rare Imperial Russian cross for the Order of Saint Stanislaus, 3rd Class. As the war progressed, there was a shortage of precious metal, so military decorations were often worked in bronze, in this case gilt white bronze. The cross's four arms are decorated in deep red translucent enamel over an engraved background, while the central enameled reserve bears the letters "SS" for St. Stanislaus. The cross appears with crossed swords, indicating it was awarded for military distinction rather for civil service. The cross has the "European" style suspension eyelet at the top. The Order of St. Stanislaus was originally the second-highest ranking Polish order, but was incorporated into the Russian system in the mid-19th century.

Origin: Russia, ca. 1917. Condition: good; traces of original gilding remain; some nicks to translucent enamel, mostly at the points of the arms, and a hairline to the opaque enamel on one side. Size: 1-9/16" diameter.