Those of us who celebrate Christmas frequently have decorations in the attic or a closet, and they are only seen briefly when December 25 rolls around. Then, they return to those dark and musty places and are not seen again for a year.
Believe it or not, if you have such a collection of old and infrequently-produced items, you may be able to get some money for them—quite a bit of money, as it turns out. Read our list of Christmas decorations you can sell for big bucks, and who knows – you may get a nice payday for selling great-grandma’s one-of-a-kind porcelain ornament that’s been in the family for 100 years.
Image Credit: LauraLew530 / eBay.
1. Ceramic Christmas trees
Small and illuminated ceramic trees are very tasteful and discreet, so much so that you may not perceive them as a source of income. If you have one, though, you can try and sell it for an eye-popping $11,000, such as this one listed as “used,” prompting the question of how one uses a Christmas tree since it mainly just stands there.
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2. Rare ornaments like this one
This unique ornament depicts Santa hanging out inside it in a delightful winter scene. Those acquainted with the heartache of an ornament shattering when it accidentally falls off the tree should be advised that this little number costs $8,000, so hang it on the tree limb closest to the floor and put a gym mat under it.
Image Credit: HUNT FOR THE VINTAGE ANTIQUE FINDS / eBay.
3. German blown-glass ornaments
While we sometimes wax glib about the price of some of this stuff vis-à-vis what the product is, we concede that this German blown-glass ornament is both beautiful and unique, if still a bit rich for our blood at $6,500. The high asking price notwithstanding, this ornament shows a high level of craftsmanship from whoever made it, and for those who don’t mind paying the price, it’s a lovely item.
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4. Shiny Brite ornaments
Shiny Brite was an American company that manufactured Christmas tree ornaments during the 1940s and 1950s. The individual ornaments don’t seem as in demand as the complete kits, such as this one selling for $600.
Image Credit: LauraLew530 / eBay.
5. Winnie the Pooh figures, blow mold edition
Kids who grew up in the city and therefore didn’t have front yards were denied the opportunity to decorate such a yard with a plastic blow mold figure of Santa, his elves, or other such Christmas characters. This one depicts a Christmas-themed Winnie the Pooh and sells for $1,274.99, even though it will be standing outside all winter without pants.
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6. Putz houses
A putz is a miniature Christmas village whose history dates back hundreds of years to the Moravian church. While people in the market for this will probably want the whole set, the individual elements can fetch a high price, such as this one that’s selling for $379.
Image Credit: Susanne Jörger / eBay.
7. Aluminum Christmas trees
There are two kinds of aluminum Christmas trees – one costs about $25 at Wal-Mart and is ideal for people who want to shove it back in the closet and not clean up any pine needles. The other kind avoids the Charlie Brown Christmas tree syndrome and has a colorful and impressive hand-crafted design, like this one from the 1960s, selling for $4,300.
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8. Papier-mâché Santa figures
Old-school Santa figurines and dolls from the 1950s are big sellers on the auction market, but this one dates back to the early 20th century, so it commands a high price. This one sells for $1,999, and you’d think for that much money, he could at least force a smile instead of scowling angrily.
Image Credit: us2014-frav / eBay.
9. Coca-Cola Christmas villages
This Coca-Cola Christmas Village was manufactured in 2002, but according to the product description, its style is “retro,” which means Gen Xers must now accept that they’re no longer spring chickens. The $1,400 asking price may seem a little steep, but can you really put a price on learning you’re “retro” because you remember the Spice Girls?
Image Credit: pickerman900 / eBay.
10. Vintage Christmas cards
Per the item description, this vintage Christmas card featuring Santa delivering presents to some docked boats was created by artist Ralph McConnell of California. We’re not sure we’re familiar with McConnell’s work, but if the $4,300 sticker price for this card is any indication, there is excellent demand for drawings of Seaside Santa.
Image Credit: HUNT FOR THE VINTAGE ANTIQUE FINDS / eBay.
11. Vintage nutcrackers
Few ballets remain as beloved as Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker.” Its association with Christmas has made it a holiday tradition for over 130 years. It’s not surprising to see Christmas-themed nutcrackers get auctioned for high prices, such as this pair currently selling for $999.99, thanks to this ballet’s ongoing and enduring popularity.
Image Credit: caballo66 / iStock.
12. Bespoke stockings
You can get a four-pack of knitted Christmas stockings at your local Wal-Mart for less than $20, but where’s the fun in that? We recommend buying a handmade, one-of-a-kind item such as this stocking, the product of metallic, hand-finished needlepoint, which is selling for $750.
Image Credit: Dallas’s Best Antiques and Jewelry / eBay.
13. Life-size elf statues
If you’re the sort of person who goes big every Christmas and garlands your house with so many decorations that they can be seen from outer space, don’t give the elf statues short shrift. Instead, get one the size of an actual Santa’s helper at almost four feet tall, currently selling for $6,500.
Image Credit: allseasonsmarket / eBay.
14. Outdoor house lighting
As the holidays approach, who doesn’t love stringing lights and all sorts of other blinking, strobing, seizure-inducing stuff over the roof to be the biggest eyesore on the block? If that sounds like a challenge, we say buy this Light O Rama Massive Christmas Outdoor Display, which is so bright and obnoxious at just $9,500 that approaching airplanes will see your home on foggy nights.
Image Credit: x-maspro4718 / eBay.
15. Christmas music boxes
Music boxes are charming all year, but never more so than during the holidays. This very fragile-looking one plays “Hark The Herald Angels Sing” while revolving, and while $2,100 may seem better spent on paying down credit card debt, you must admire the craftsmanship.
This article was produced and syndicated by MediaFeed.
Image Credit: M and C Estate Sailing / eBay.
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