Rare Museum quality large 32 Antique German bisque head Santa or Saint Nicholas Clockwork Nodder with key wind. He is holding his original goose feather tree and pannier basket is strung on his rope belt and full of early German toys. The basket is in very nice condition, no damage, has a red flannel bag inside to hold toys. Santa is in beautiful condition, his long cream mohair coat has no holes, no stains, no smell. The key wind makes Santa’s head nod, hidden under his right arm. His bisque head has no damage, no chips or cracks, his nose tip is lighter, possibly a rub. He appears all original with his goat skin beard, goose feather tree, rope belt with pannier basket of antique German toys that date him to 1880. Inside his neck carton is marked 76′ not sure if referring to a date? His toys are wonderfully made and very early pair of all bisque articulated Kling Dolls dressed as twins, rare Putz wooden Army of soldiers articulated on flexible base, Fur Horse w/glass eyes marked Germany, pr wooden skis and ski poles, Putz moving see saw toy with figures, articulated tin lithograph clown hanging upside down, Putz wood soldier, 2-wood decks of cards with King & Queen lithograph (match boxes), and a pair of painted lead submarines. The only wear I found on the Santa is the top of his hood shows wear from touching nodding his head and light rub to nose. He has a carton body with paper mache feet in nice condition. His head is removable and weighted and sits on top with hook to hold in place. The 15″ & 13″ dolls are not included, they show the large size of Santa or Saint Nicholas! His bisque head is what makes him rare with his character face, molded painted teeth, and expressive French blue glass paperweight eyes and furrowed brows and wrinkles! This Santa is prized by collectors of both Christmas and Dolls! The bisque Santa head is unmarked but was likely made by Cuno Otto Dressel Co, a similar character face appears as Uncle Sam and Santa with wrinkled character face and slim pointed noses as this Santa has. This Clockwork Nodder Santa was featured on the cover of “The Golden Glow Of Christmas Past”. The Clockwork Santa on the front cover is shown in red on the printed page I included. This Santa has the same bisque face with teeth and white eye bows, goat skin beard, blue glass eyes, and the same color cream mohair long coat with pale blue lined sleeves and hood. The base looks almost identical, just a couple inches shorter at 30 listed size. The goose feather tree is similar but not in the best condition, has less branches and no candle holders. This Santa has the same rope belt with tassels, but has no pannier basket for toys, the key looks slightly different. I have taken many photos of this wonderful Santa and his condition and all his parts. The large bisque head is what makes this German Santa so unusual and the quality and condition is probably the Best! The item “Rare Antique 32 German Clockwork Nodder Santa Bisque Glass Eyes Feather Tree” is in sale since Saturday, October 17, 2020. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Holiday & Seasonal\Christmas\ Vintage (Pre-1946)\Figures\Santa”. The seller is “renoradtke” and is located in Shiocton, Wisconsin. This item can be shipped to United States.
- Handmade: Yes
- Character: Santa
- Modified Item: No
- Country/Region of Manufacture: Germany
- Year: 1880
- Occasion: Christmas
- Time Period Manufactured: Vintage (Pre-1946)