The Best 10 Tips for Christmas Head Vase Collecting Magic

Vintage Christmas Head Vases and Planters
Vintage Christmas Head Vases and Planters

Welcome, festive friends to our “The Best 10 Tips for Christmas Head Vase Collecting Magic.” guide. This treasure trove of expert advice will guide you through the enchanting world of vintage Christmas head vases, manufactures to look for like Relpo, Napco, Lefton, Inarco, secrets when shopping to help you build a stunning collection that exudes holiday charm and nostalgic delight.

Whether you’re a seasoned collector or just starting out, these tips will equip you with the knowledge and inspiration you need to make your collection sparkle with festive cheer. So, put on your Santa hat, and let’s dive into the magical realm of Christmas head vase collecting!

Vintage Christmas Rubens Skater Girl Planter
Vintage Christmas Rubens Skater Girl Planter

As a long-time follower of my blog, you’re aware of my passion for vintage mid-century kitsch, particularly vintage Christmas items! My collection of vintage Christmas head vases and planters began with a charming 1950s Rubens skater girl (pictured above) wearing a vibrant red outfit, gold antlers, and a sleigh full of gifts on candy cane runners. Likely crafted in Japan, where most ceramics were produced, this captivating planter sparked my ever-growing collection.

Vintage Christmas Inarco Head Vase Glamour Girl
Vintage Christmas Inarco Head Vase Glamour Girl
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Vintage Christmas Treasure Hunt: The Best from the 50s-60s!

Yasmina Greco Vintage Christmas Collecting Series
Yasmina Greco Vintage Christmas Collecting Series
Welcome to a festive vintage Christmas treasure hunt through time as we dive into the magical world of mid-century Christmas collectibles from the fabulous 50s and swinging 60s. In this exciting six-part series, we’ll uncover my top vintage finds, discuss manufacturers like Holt Howard, I will reveal insider tips on pricing and sourcing, and help you track down those elusive, rare gems. Here’s a sneak peek of the treasures we’ll be unearthing:

Collecting Vintage NOEL Christmas Candle Holders, Figurines, and Bells
Vintage Holt-Howard Christmas Collectibles
Pretty Ladies – Vintage Christmas Head Vases and Planters
Collecting Vintage Christmas Angels
Yasmina Greco Vintage Christmas Collecting Series
Yasmina Greco Vintage Christmas Collecting Series

Posts in the Vintage Christmas Collecting Series:

• Collecting vintage NOEL Christmas candle holders, figurines, and bells
Vintage Holt-Howard Christmas collectibles
Pretty Ladies – Vintage Christmas Head Vases and Planters
Collecting vintage Christmas angels
Have yourself a Mid-Mod Christmas
Collecting vintage Christmas year-round

(New for 2021-2022)

Holt-Howard Christmas Collectibles and Price Guide: Starry Eyed Santa

Vintage Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Thrifting Vintage Christmas Decorations: NOEL Sets from the 1950s-1960s

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Some photo highlights from the vintage Christmas series below:

Collecting Vintage Christmas Noel Sets
Collecting Vintage Christmas Noel Sets
Holt-Howard Girl Candleholders
Holt-Howard Girl Candleholders
Vintage Christmas Head Vases and Planters
Vintage Christmas Head Vases and Planters
Holt-Howard Starry-Eyed Santa Tray
Holt-Howard Starry-Eyed Santa Tray
Support the Blog
Support the Blog

About the Vintage Christmas Collecting Series: This six-part series of blog posts and pictures focuses on vintage and Mid-Century Modern Christmas collectibles from the late 1940s-1960s, giving you the insights on starting a collection.

You’ll learn expert tips on prices and where to find these treasures as well as tips for adding to your collection and scoring the rare and hard-to-find pieces. Both new and seasoned collectors will learn new things so they can enjoy collecting vintage Christmas items year-round.

2020 Series:

Collecting vintage NOEL Christmas candle holders, figurines, and bells
Vintage Holt-Howard Christmas collectibles
Pretty Ladies – Vintage Christmas Head Vases and Planters
Collecting vintage Christmas angels
Have yourself a Mid-Mod Christmas
Collecting vintage Christmas year-round

2021-2022 Series:

Holt-Howard Christmas Collectibles and Price Guide: Starry Eyed Santa

Vintage Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Thrifting Vintage Christmas Decorations: NOEL Sets from the 1950s-1960s

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Collecting Vintage Lady Head Vases: 5 Tips You Need to Know

Head vases were made in a variety of designs in the 1950s -1960s. But it was the elegant, fashion-model look AKA – ‘Glamour Girl’ that quickly became among the most popular. These head vases have hand-painted features, 3-dimensional thick black eyelashes, ruby red lips, fancy hats, pearl necklaces and matching earrings, painted fingernails, or gloved hands, and hands that would frame one side of the face. Sizes can range from approx. 3 ¾” inches to 8” inches tall.

Glamorous movie stars and fashion models inspired many of the designs of the era; Jackie O, Lucile Ball, and Marilyn Monroe all had head vases modeled after their likeness. There are also Christmas themed vases that feature pretty ladies and girls in holiday splendor with lots of red and green colors and decorated with poinsettias and holly berries.

Prices: Currently head vases can be purchased for $50-$300+ and they can be found on Ebay, Etsy, Rubylane, at antique shops and markets.

5 Tips for Collecting Head Vases

  • Maker Marks: Napco, Lefton, Reubens, Inarco, Enesco, Betty Lou Nichols, Relpo, Norleans, Parma, Japan. Tags and stamps intact.
  • Quality: Well modeled and painted features.
  • Flourished intact: Eyelashes, fingers not broken or repaired.
  • Jewelry intact, no missing necklace or earrings
  • Holiday vases with red and green colors, poinsettias, holly, ornaments, Christmas trees, Snowmen, and Ice-skaters.

You can see all out vintage head vases and items here: Cray4Me Ebay Store, Crazy4Me Etsy Store, Rubylane Store

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What You Need To Know About Collecting Headvases

Many Heads

It was roughly one year ago that I actually paid attention to a Head Vase. Before, I saw them here and there and in old books and tv shows but had no real interest at that time. So, I was out product sourcing a year  ago for some auctions I was going to post up for the weekend when I came across a “Norleans” lady Head Vase with the long black eyelashes, a gorgeous head of blonde hair and siren red lips. That Norleans head vase was a small 4 1/2 inch head vase and looked so amazing that I went into the booth she was in and took her off the shelf to get a better look. I took her home that afternoon and she was sold before the week was over! Now, I wish I would have kept her as I would love to start my own collection as I am truly fascinated by the beauty and glamour of vintage Head Vases.

For those that are advanced collectors and for those that are just getting started on their collections, the below is some great information on Head Vases that I hope you enjoy reading.

Head Vase History
With World War II a memory, America prospered in the late 1940s and 50s. Japan was no longer the enemy; instead, with its lower labor costs as well as the favorable dollar/yen exchange rate, the island nation increasingly became the source of many low-cost imports to the United States. Small ceramics were among the most popular—including head vases, which today have become extremely collectible.

Back then, few would have anticipated the current popularity of this commodity which, for decades, florists used as inexpensive enhancements for their bouquets. Indeed, what today we usually refer to as “ceramic planters” or “head vases,” was often then generically called “florist ware.” Neighborhood “five and dimes” were popular sources for the more affordable pieces.

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