Featured Vintage 40s/50s Christmas Japan holiday houses, mercury glass roof, ORIG PRICE TAGS

Not too rare, and no real question, but was fun to see the original price tags on these!

They are sort of "paper-like" in construction so posted here.

 

Those are great fun. Dime store items complete with price tag.

Debora

 

Nice! Based on price tags they don't appear to be brand-new. They are in very good condition, though.

 

Keywords would be "mica" & "putz". I never saw the ones with beads on the roof. I love them!!

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=mica+house&_sacat=0&rt=nc&LH_Sold=1&LH_Complete=1

 

I see some are saying the beads are "mercury beads". I think the little hole in the back was used to let the Christmas tree lights "illuminate" the "stained glass" windows.

 

Thank you. Already sold (just yesterday) and did use the words, "Putz".

For those curious, the set of five sold for $51. I think that was w/free shipping, too. Seems about market rate. Each roof had one glass ball either missing or broken, and the cellophane windows either missing or split, which of course I disclosed. But every other auction I saw with this type of thing had the same small damage. I think those tiny (super thin) glass balls just pop easily when stored, etc.

These were not a recent purchase on my end, but something I got at an estate sale 3 years ago. I used them for decor one year, and I've just been thinning some holiday things out.

They are fun though. Hoping the new buyer is happy with them.

 

They are actually just tiny, thin, fragile, glass beads, not real mercury glass...but the term "mercury glass" is used so often these days that it is practically meaningless.

Originally it described a process of blowing a double layer of glass, with mercury filling the space between. Mercury itself was used only on mirrors. It was a silver nitrate solution that provided the silver color on ornaments and other decorative glass items.

Now, apparently, a lot of sellers use the term to mean any glass ornament with a silver colored first coat.

 

Thanks for the clarification, Taupou!

 

They are so cute. I have maybe 2 here that are similar without the beads on the roof. I keep saying, I need to list em and then I list something else instead.
Congrats on the sale.

 

Putz house history:
https://goldenglow.org/2014/12/history-putz-village/

 

u don't wanna know what that means in yiddish...........

 

Komo I was thinking the same exact thing.

 

those are fabulous Lucille, congrats on the sale of them

 

My Dad called several of my boyfriends that- it was not a compliment!

 

A father's prerogative.

Debora

 

You should check out the Golden Glow of Christmas Past group on Facebook. Talk about collectors! If I ever sell any vintage Christmas I'm going to alert them first because they are real fanatics. I'll bet one of them bought your set.