Christmas 2013 . . . December 24

Collectors love to create scenes under their Christmas trees or Christmas displays with the early 1900s Erzgebirge (or so-called "Putz" by the Americans).   I've taken photos of a part of my early 1900s collection to show you the range of items that were made.  I was first introduced to Erzgebirge through the pieces my mother received as a child from relatives in Germany, some of which are pictured above in these carnival pieces.  

Large tour buses here are pictured with a large and detailed ferris wheel,  what in German is referred to as a "Russische Schaukel," or Russian swing.  It turns with a crank on the side.

                        Wheeled vehicles are a favorite of collectors.

Here a tiny papier-mache Santa in sleigh with reindeer is paired with an early snow plow on the left.   The Büdo Luxus delivery truck is a rare advertising piece.  The red/white paper label on both sides is in excellent condition, hard to find on a piece this old and meant to be played with.

Pictured is a  part of my collection of Erzgebirge ships.  Those on wheels, as you can imagine, are rare.

                        Here I've included some military figures pre-1900.

These military vehicles are very detailed, and include even a bi-plane.