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RARE Antique German Mary Pickford Blown Glass Christmas Ornament 1920s 4.5”
Description:
An exceptionally rare antique German blown glass Christmas ornament depicting legendary silent film star Mary Pickford, dating to approximately the 1920s.
This is the last of two examples I was fortunate enough to acquire together in the same antique lot. Remarkably, both survived in lovely antique condition, although I consider this example to be slightly better preserved. Finding two of these extraordinarily scarce ornaments together was a wonderful discovery, and this is my final example available for sale.
Measuring approximately 4.5 inches tall, this remarkable ornament features Mary Pickford with her distinctive golden hair, a beautifully molded dress with flowing drapery, and unusually long, extended legs ending in delicate little feet.
Mary Pickford was one of the most celebrated stars of the silent film era, affectionately known as “America’s Sweetheart.” Her enormous popularity inspired a variety of collectibles, including these wonderfully whimsical German glass Christmas ornaments. Today, surviving examples are highly sought after by collectors of early Christmas decorations, antique figural ornaments, and Hollywood memorabilia.
This is a particularly charming example, with beautiful three-dimensional molded details and an unusual silhouette. The soft pearl-white and silvered dress retains a lovely antique shimmer, complemented by the golden hair and remnants of the original hand-painted facial features. The beautifully molded folds of her dress are especially appealing, extending around the entire ornament.
These extended-leg Mary Pickford ornaments are exceptionally difficult to find, especially in this larger size. This example’s attractive preservation makes it particularly desirable.
A wonderful opportunity to acquire a genuinely scarce piece of early 20th-century Christmas and entertainment history.
Condition:
Very good antique condition considering its age, rarity, and delicate blown glass construction.
Of the two examples I acquired together, I consider this one to be in slightly better condition, particularly in its overall presentation and preservation of the original decorative finish.
The ornament retains a lovely amount of its original pearlescent and silvered finish, with scattered age-related wear, oxidation, and areas of finish loss. The golden hair retains attractive original coloring, although there is some wear and loss to the gold decoration. Remnants of the original red facial painting remain, particularly around the mouth, while the other facial details have faded.
The extended legs and delicate feet appear intact, including their distinctive curved ends. There is some wear and darkening toward the tips. The metal cap and hanging loop remain present.
There is age-related surface wear and some fine irregularity in the finish, consistent with an ornament of this age. No obvious major breaks or missing glass components have been identified.
Please review all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the description.
Details:
* Origin: Germany
* Age: Approximately 1920s
* Material: Blown glass
* Subject: Mary Pickford, silent film actress
* Height: Approximately 4.5 inches, excluding hanging loop
* Finish: Pearl-white and silvered with gold-painted hair and hand-painted facial details
* Type: Antique figural Christmas ornament
* Availability: Last of two examples acquired together
Comparable Sales – Please Read:
The final three photographs are included strictly for reference and show three other examples of this rare Mary Pickford ornament that have previously sold at sale or through online marketplaces.
These examples realized prices of $432, $592, and $959.99, illustrating the rarity and collector interest in this unusual design.
Please note that the final three photographs are of previously sold examples and are NOT photographs of the ornament being offered. They are included solely to provide historical sales comparisons. Only the ornament shown in the preceding photographs is included in this listing.
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