During the holiday season, decorating a tree with ornaments is a part of many homes. Whether the ornaments are homemade, heirlooms, or store-bought, there is a story behind each of them. But there are some worth quite a bit of money, especially vintage Christmas ornaments. Keep reading to learn more about these six vintage Christmas ornaments you need to see, from Florence Nightingale to John Deere.
6. 1996 & 1997 John Deere Christmas Ornaments
Our sixth selection of vintage Christmas ornaments comes from John Deere. Most known for manufacturing heavy machinery, such as agriculture and forestry equipment, they also create an annual Christmas ornament. Each one resembles a coin and features a detailed Christmas scene and the year it was created. The farther back you go, the more valuable these ornaments get, like this 1997 John Deere ornament that sold for $2,500.
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5. Handmade Florence Nightingale Nurse Ornament
Next on our list is the Florence Nightingale ornament, which is unique not only for the subject matter but also for the creation story behind it. This ornament and others are created by a women-led Kork cooperative in the village of Kyrgyzstan, helping them become financially independent. This particular ornament represents the founder of modern nursing, who trained nurses during the Crimean War and became an English social reformer. The Nightingale ornament has sold for up to $2,600.
4. Rare Barbie Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments
You should recognize our next picks for vintage Christmas ornaments, as Barbie dolls have been popular for decades amongst children and adults of all ages. Along with valuable Barbie dolls, the ornaments of the plastic icon are also quite valuable and unique. Hallmark specifically makes these ornaments, and the set pictured above sold for $3,000.
Included are the 1997 Club Edition Ornament, the 1999 Barbie as the Millennium Princess Ornament, the 1999 Barbie 40th Anniversary Ornament, and the 2004 45th Anniversary Barbie Ornament.
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3. Antique German Cobalt Blue Raspberry Kugel Ornament
The first thing people think of when hearing “vintage” or “antique” ornaments is the prized German kugel ornaments. Kugels come in a range of colors and shapes, with two- to four-inch balls the most common and mushrooms and artichokes the rarest. This particular kugel ornament is a giant royal blue raspberry, measuring five by five inches, and made in Germany in 1900. The unique ornament is priced at around $3,200.
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2. De Carlini Batman Christmas Ornament
See the Dark Knight in a new form with our second selection of vintage Christmas ornaments. The De Carlini Batman is part of the Super Heroes Christmas Ornament collection, and a limited number were created. De Carlini made the ornaments in Italy by hand, blowing the glass shape by mouth, the artist also hand-painted each piece. This is part of the reason why this extremely eye-catching ornament fetches up to $4,000.
1. Antique German Dresden Paper Elf Ornament
Earning the number one spot on the vintage Christmas ornaments list is the German Dresden Paper Elf Ornament. Dresden ornaments are some of the most sought-after ornaments on auction sites. The name comes from the region of Germany where the ornaments originated. Each ornament has a direct correlation between the amount of detail and its worth, so it’s no surprise that this 1910 one is valued at $5,560. Along with a festive elf, it features a functional candy container and a goat-drawn wagon.
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