From elegant trees to plastic imitations, the history of Christmas trees has travelled a long ways from magnificent firs and Victorian table-top parlor trees. A rich and unique history unfolds of unique, unusual, and sometimes unforgettable varieties that collectors today still proudly display.
While many are reproduced for sale, others are all but forgotten except by bargain shoppers cruising secondhand shops and flea market booths. Perfect for decorating with vintage miniature ornaments or hand-made holiday decorations, the tradition of miniature trees remains alive courtesy of Christmas enthusiasts.
Feather Trees and Bottle Brush
Still popular today in the folk art and primitive markets, feather trees are diminutive miniatures featuring light branches, quick assembly, and a delicate appearance. Perfect for decorating with miniature ornaments and vintage selections, feather trees are reproduced for sale by modern manufacturers, although vintage versions surface in the secondhand market for antique lovers.
The bottle brush version, with its stiff, close-woven imitation greenery, still finds its way into modern craft projects, including wreath and garland designs sporting snow and glitter. While miniature bottle brush trees still maintain a humble, old-fashioned air, finding an original typically means scouring garage sales or yard sale boxes.
The Aluminum and Ceramic Tree
The oft-decried aluminum tree, with its silver or white foliage, grows increasingly collectible despite being relegated to attics and storage boxes for a few decades. The ornaments and additional features are frequently listed on sites like eBay, with the color wheel that transformed the aluminum tree into a primitive fiber optics show and the traditional pink inverted teardrop bulbs.
The light-up ceramic tree is a traditional design in comparison to the aluminum version. Structured almost like a cookie jar with a lift-off top, the inside bulb lights a series of small colored bulbs inserted in the flocked green ceramic body and a white star-like bulb inserted at the top. Due to broken bulbs and shattered tops, a perfect vintage ceramic tree is hard to find on the bargain shelves.
Alternative Christmas Trees
Inspired by the tradition of vintage assembly trees like the feather tree, folk art versions occasionally appear on the market, including bare-limbed trees structured from wooden dowelsand home-made feather versions, designed for displaying mini wooden ornaments, glass balls, and small hand-made ornaments.
The humble and colorful Christmas trees of old are invested with memory and meaning for the generations who grew up with one as the centerpiece of their Christmas morning. Celebrating the holidays with a few vintage tributes or modern reproductions can add charm and whimsy to the Christmas decor of any room.
Sarah Briggs - For the last two years, I have designed primitive dolls and folk art sculptures (such as Edwin Drood and the Ghost of Marley) for Cordwood ...
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