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Lanterns
     
 
Paper/Cardboard - Santa's - Metal - Glass
 
Paper and Cardboard

These two are the same back and front. They are held together by a harmonica system made of red paper. They are used with a light bulb, as shown on the cover. Made by E.O. & Co., Sundbyberg in Sweden.
”E.O.” stands for Erik Olsson :
(http://www.uta.fi/~mt55908/kustantajia.htm) or
Eric F. Olsson (http://www.samlarportalen.com/sida.asp?id=82&stitel=Eric%20F.%20Olsson,%20Sundbyberg
).

Re E.O.& Co., production of scraps: This Swedish publisher was in production from around 1947 until 1960, when it was sold to the American Williams, but production stopped in 1971. The originals were sold to England and Mamelok Press Ltd, still being in production today.

More information on the production of "non"-scraps is appreciated.



Heart: dimensions: 32 x 34 cm


"Jul smycket en verkligt strålande vacker nyhet"
(Christmas ornament  a truly glorious handsome novelty)


Star: signed "Artelius" (Swedish artist, Helge Artelius 1895-1989); 29,5 x 29,5 cm


"Fönster stjärna en verkligt strålande vacker julstjärna"
(window star a truly glorious handsome Chrismas star)


Harmonica system made of red paper

 
The following lanterns, sold flat, some with a top and a base with a candle holder, are to be assembled. Those without a base or without a top are possibly to be used with a light bulb. Some are the same on all four sides, and others have a different decoration on each side. Usually they are covered on the inside with colored paper; if not I presume it has been damaged, removed or just forgotten. Some have one panel that can be opened to put the candle in.
The largest one is 25,5 cm high, the smallest one 21 cm high, panels from 13cm up to 20cm wide. Some have little panels that can be removed, then used as an advent calendar.

Above is part of a leaflet of the firm Friedrich Herold, Chamerau in Germany, in which amongst others two cardboard lanterns are offered. The firm is still operational today and they have not been able to date the leaflet, but do state it is before 1957 as since then the telephone numbers changed from 3 into 883.


"Hansel and Gretel", four different sides, one panel opens, shown in Friedrich Herold's leaflet above, total height 23,8cm, each panel 13cm wide.

A St. Martin's lantern, four different sides, showing the St. Martin's story, one panel opens. It was advertised in the 1957 Herold catalog as “Nr. 204 St. Martins-Laterne mit Motiven aus der Martins-Legend DM 1.20” (ref. Tina Peschel).
Total 25cm high and each panel 13cm wide.

In the models in this collection most of the bases are separate from the panels. In this model it is attached on one side to a panel and it has the inserted candle holder. The holes are probably for ventilation.


Four different sides, two with a Santa, one panel opens; total 24cm high and each panel 13,5cm wide.

Top and base pieces are shown, but the base has the candle holder missing.

I have seen an earlier version also with the base attached (see previous one St. Martin's), assigned to the 1930s, so they have been made during a longer period.



Two different panels, no base, each panel about 20cm wide and 21,5cm high

Shown in Friedrich Herold's leaflet above; same all sides, one panel opens;
total height 23,5cm; each panel ca 13cm wide

Four different sides, no base, total 22cm high and each panel 14cm wide; is more a Halloween lantern

Four different sides, animal scenes: buck, dogs, doe and a bird; on the inside there is no glue residue which would point to removed paper, either not intended or just forgotten,
no top so maybe for electric bulb; total 22,5cm high, each panel 12cm wide

Advent calendar lantern, see also under advent calendars, no. 43.

Advent calendar lantern, two different panels, one opens, total 24,3cm high, each panel ca 13cm wide;
see also under Advent Calendars, no. 43.

 

The description on the back of the envelope starts with the custom of the “Mettenlaterne”. Free translation:
“Handcrafting of “Mettenlaterne” in the Christmas season is an old custom, which was particularly maintained in the Erzgebirge and in the Thüringer area. At the time when there were no street lights, carrying of lanterns in the evening was necessary. During the Christmas season one provided the lanterns with appropriate traditional Christian and general Christmas motives, or special lanterns were manufactured from pasteboard or plywood. These lanterns would be carried going to the early service, also called “Finstermette” and held before daybreak. In the catholic and also in the evangelist church this service is held on Christmas eve, usually starting around midnight.”
This envelope contains 8 transparent pictures, to be stuck in the openings, two sets of double cardboard panels to form the lantern, the cardboard base in which a candle clip, now missing, is to be inserted.
Dimensions, when assembled, would be 23,5 cm high and 4 panels, each 14 cm wide.

Production information printed below left:
H.C. Schmiedicke (VOB), Kunstverlag, DDR 7010 Leipzig
Hersteller: VOB Industriedruck Grossenhain
A 31/83 MfK  III/15/4  1950/3  15,0  1083

Paper lanterns: based on Japanese and Chinese model, also used for other occasions. There are many other models and designs, but here are those we usually find as Christmas decoration and a few attractive or unusual designs. The smallest is
   

Two cardboard lanterns covered with plaster (?), painted white and decorated with mica, a cotton and a wax bell, reindeer probably plastic, the inside painted red; to be used with a large candle; dimensions: 15cm high and 17cm wide at the base
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Santa's
Made from hard plastic; opens at the bottom for insertion of 2 batteries; besides the text in the photo, "EMPIRE MADE"  is printed on the box and is also shown on the base of the latern, toghere with NO. 5862.
On one side of the box is printed “THE NEW BRIGHT Santa Claus FOR YOUR CAR   dry battery operated   PATENTED  see instructions inside the box   MADE IN ITALY  NO. 1317” plus in Italian, German and French on each of the other sides. The box is the container for two batteries, plus the electrical wire with a small switch and a lamp for insertion in the Santa head.
Made from hard plastic; opens at the bottom for insertion of 2 batteries; besides the text in the photo, "EMPIRE MADE" is printed on the box and is also shown on the base of the lantern, together with NO. 5862. On one side of the box is printed “THE NEW BRIGHT Santa Claus FOR YOUR CAR dry battery operated PATENTED see instructions inside the box MADE IN ITALY NO. 1317” plus in Italian, German and French on each of the other sides. The box is the container for two batteries, plus the electrical wire with a small switch and a lamp for insertion in the Santa head.
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Metal

Collapsible lanterns, made of brass with gelatine sheet windows, with a candle insert in the base and a wire loop for hanging on the tree.
 
   
   

These were in a box with Christmas decorations;
but I think they are for doll's houses
 
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Glass
These would be oil lights, sometimes called fairy lights, Victorian Christmas lights, ... The earliest have rounded bottoms as they were for hanging with a wire on the tree. Later they had flattened bottoms for standing giving their use more possibilities. Later the oil was replaced by candles. Many different versions, colors and patterns have been made, up to the 1920s. A min-point was their weight.

However, in the 1990s reproductions were, and still are, made in India and Mexico. They are difficult to tell from the antique originals, but in Mr. George Johnson's book, volume III, there is a chapter dealing with these lights.

 
   
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