7 Christmas Decorations That Could Be Surprisingly Valuable

When you pull out all of your decorations for this year's holiday decorating, you might want to take an extra look at what you have in your collection. Perhaps you have a few family heirlooms that haven't been touched in years, or maybe you've collected an array of vintage accents. While Christmas decorations hold all kinds of sentimental value, a handful of vintage varieties also hold a hefty monetary value—including some you might already have at home.

With the popularity of sourcing antique stores, estate sales, resale sites, and thrift shops for a nostalgic Christmas display, it's possible you have a hidden treasure of your own hiding in a cardboard box at the back of your storage closet. Don't be too quick to declutter your collection until you've read our list of valuable holiday decorations you could very likely have—you might be surprised!

Even if you don't find any of these valuable vintage Christmas decorations in your own home, you can buy them online or hunt them down yourself while scouring antique stores. Make sure to cross-check the value and look at the condition of an item before purchasing.

Credit:

David Land

1. Ceramic Christmas Trees

Nostalgic ceramic Christmas trees have made a return and can now be found in many home and department stores. Originally, they gained popularity in the 1960s and 1970s—often crafted by homeowners during ceramics classes or at home. Authentic vintage ceramic trees can sell for more than $200, especially those in good condition.

Prices can surge during the holiday season due to increased demand. To determine the value of your tree, check the base for a manufacturer’s mark. The earliest ceramic trees were created by Atlantic Mold, and other valuable designs followed from Nowell. Larger and musical versions often fetch the highest prices.

2. Department 56 Villages and Figurines

Department 56 is known for its lighted Christmas village collections and figurines. Collectors could spend years devoted to finding every last piece of their set, with some series extremely difficult to source. Depending on the rarity, complete sets can sell for up to $15,000. Even individual buildings sell at reasonable prices due to the company's reputation for high-quality, realistic ceramic products.

Credit:

Monica Buck

3. Shiny Brite Ornaments

Shiny Brites are sought after for their retro charm and are making a big comeback in modern Christmas decor. These classic glass ornaments were first produced in the United States in 1937, with production ceasing in the 1960s. Depending on rarity and condition, individual Shiny Brite ornaments can sell for between $5 and $90. Complete sets in their original boxes are particularly valuable.

During World War II, some Shiny Brites featured cardboard caps and yarn hangers because of metal shortages, making these versions especially rare and sought after by collectors.

4. Blow Molds

Decorative blow molds once covered neighborhood lawns between the 1940s and 1970s—primarily for Christmas, but also for holidays like Halloween and Easter. They were most often made in the shape of Santa, reindeer, snowmen, candy canes, candles, and nativity scenes. Vintage sets can sell for over $500 on eBay. To get an idea of whether yours might be truly vintage, check the bottom for any dates embossed or an older-style plug. There would also be no barcode printed anywhere on the figurine.

Credit:

Helen Norman

5. Aluminum or Feather Christmas Trees

Popular in midcentury decorating, genuine aluminum Christmas trees are typically worth serious cash, reselling for $300 to $3,000. Similarly, genuine feather Christmas trees are nothing to sneeze at either. They were first popular in the United States when German immigrants brought the dyed-feather trees to the United States in the 1920s.

6. Holt Howard Collectibles

Holt Howard was known for playful, cartoon-like ceramics, with their winking Santa mugs a highly sought-after Christmas collectible. True Holt Howard items often have the name and year or an "HH" and year stamped on the back or bottom of the item. Pieces with no chips or fractures are the most valuable, but you can still find chipped sets selling for over $200.

7. Vintage Sleds

Seen in modern Christmas and winter decor, a vintage sled is great for exterior decorating or for leaning up against a mantel. Often, the older and more intricate, the more valuable the sled. Antique cutter-style sleds with original paint and decorative iron runners can go for more than $1,000.