Is this Christmas tree stand 1920s or 1890s?

Hi,
I have had this tree stand since I was a kid. People have said it is from the 1920s other say it is older. What is your opinion? It is 7" square and the hole is 2" wide by 3" high. It is cast iron
greg

 

Greg,

Is that a number on the bottom right hand leg? Not sure if it will help you find out though.

 

Hi,
No, not a number just rough casting.
greg

 

Id say older Greg. By the 1920s mass production was the rule rather than the exception,and this thing was built to last ! I am curios what the holes in the legs are for,to screw into the floor ?!?

 

"and the hole is 2" wide" -- hmmm, that certainly would be for a small-ish (cut live?) tree trunk, would it not?

Gregsglass, with that measurement what do you think? -- perhaps that it was for a "tabletop" tree (whether live or artificial as in a "feather" Christmas tree from a hundred or so years ago)?

When were tabletop trees first "in fashion"?

Inquiring minds want to know.

 

Scroll about 2/3 of the way down.
Love the wall display he has.
http://emilyevanseerdmans.blogspot.com/2014/12/harry-heissmann-on-christmas-tree-stands.html

 

Hi,
The holes were to attach to a board, I think. I have debated over this was for a live cut tree or a feather tree. I think it is too heavy and strong for a feather tree but a small real tree. I have absolutely no proof either way. It is one of those strange things that have come down without any family lure. That is way I have opened it up for discussion here.

 

Greg, I do believe the following cast iron green stand is identical to yours. The seller says it's from the 1920s Germany. The diameter of the collar is about the same as yours:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Ant...356188?hash=item27ef78319c:g:Tv8AAMXQHO9Rb4pl

--- Susan

 

Hi Susan,
I saw that one. When I found it in the attic in the late 30s my Gram said "that was my grandmother's." I never got around to asking what it was for or how old. Most of the one's that I have seen have the solid bottom, not the cross open bottom that I have. I spray it with silicone spray and use it in the woods with a small fake tree with lights.
greg

 

Checking patents I didn't find it. Very similar ones are of course made in China today; those and older ones are numerous on Eboo. Many sellers say German, Many say Victorian, some say Art Deco, but I have no idea on these, but now I know where to go if I decide I need one. Search Eboo for 'cast iron Christmas tree stand' and be prepared to do a lot of page turning.

 

I hadn't noticed the difference of the bottom, cross versus solid. Like Spring, I have now found a multitude of them on ebay like yours, but all with the solid bottom. I've noticed that a few of this design with the heart-shape screws are mentioned of Germany. I have found other iron ones in different designs, but with heart-shape screws are also saying Germany too. I couldn't see any reason why any of them were saying Germany from the description or pics until I finally found one with the heart screws in a different design showing a close-up of the cup. On the side of the cup was "Germany." Greg, have you felt and looked closely for Germany on yours? Also I noticed one in the same design as yours seems to have a foundry mark "H" on the bottom. I had no luck IDing the foundry mark.

Stand with heart-shaped screws, different design, with "Germany" on side.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Art-Deco-Christmas-Tree-Ornate-Stand-Cast-Iron-Antique-Heart-Head-Bolts-/281870839497?hash=item41a0cfaec9:g:erYAAOSweuxWTm3v&nma=true&si=w0khVg2cnSpDVbZpEpMNx5uXXsQ%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Stand in same design & heart-shaped screws with foundry mark "H".
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Vtg-Art-Deco-Cast-Iron-Christmas-Tree-Stand-Green-Stand-/262169389692?hash=item3d0a836a7c:g:~jQAAOSwAKxWXPb0&nma=true&si=w0khVg2cnSpDVbZpEpMNx5uXXsQ%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

--- Susan

 

Meant to add to the previous message, that like others have said, no doubt these narrow stands were meant for table trees. Table xmas trees was quite common back when. Just about all these early iron stands accomodate very very narrow tree trunks that would ideal taboe size trees. Many of the late Victorian Xmas illustrations depict families around table trees. BTW, believe the first manufactured tree stands were made in the 1870s. Here is an interesting article on the history of Xmas trees. I always thought Prince Albert introduced the practice into England. According to this article it was Queen Charlotte, consort of George III.
http://www.historytoday.com/alison-barnes/first-christmas-tree

Table Xmas tree:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree-topper#/media/File:Victoria_and_Albert_Christmas_Tree.png
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_tree#/media/Fileie_Gartenlaube_(1888)_Nr49_Beilage.jpg
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_tree#/media/File:Albert_Chevallier_Tayler_-_The_Christmas_Tree_1911.jpg

A Xmas in the Netherlands c1890s:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_tree#/media/File:Gezin_bij_de_kerstboom.jpg

--- Susan

 

I've always thought of "table trees" as being quite small, but got a surprise outside my grocery store a few days before Christmas this year when they had a large pile of 3-4 foot trees with a sign marked "Table Trees." only $3.99 each!

 

Hi Susan,
Thanks for all your searching. I really do appreciate it. I have looked for years and never found one with the open bottom only the ones with the closed bottom. It lets me think mine is older. I really have no idea if it is true though.
greg

 

You may have better luck finding an "earliest" date for the thumbscrews with what some are calling a heart-shaped end. These were separate hardware items the maker bought in bulk to put in his product, and their invention or patent date can probably be found. They are kind of interesting in that they are made out of only one piece of round-stock steel and represent a manufacturing advance over predecessors made from two pieces and the kind with a large flat paddle-shape on the end for fingers to grip.

 

I was thinking 20s as soon as I saw it. It doesn't look much older. BTW - related to nothing much, the story of Queen Charlotte makes a lot of sense when you think about the original words for Lo How a Rose E'er Blooming. The word isn't Rose in the original German, it's Reis - branch. I can't imagine the two not being connected somehow.

 

I absolutely LOVE the Heart shaped Thumb Screws!!!!!!!

 

Torture your Tree With Love? (innocent face)

 

we had a nice table tree......

 

Oh, that's so pretty! Can we know something about that beautiful bird? American Kestrel (formerly Sparrow Hawk)? Who made it, please?