‘Tis the Season to Collect Vintage Christmas Ornaments

The only thing better than finding the perfect Christmas tree is decorating it with your beautiful and unique collection of ornaments. The baubles you choose tell the story of you, your family, and your sense of décor, so why buy cookie-cutter modern designs when you could curate a one-of-a-kind set of vintage and antique ornaments? The next time you step foot in your local antique mall, look for these famous brands to start your collection ASAP. 

Why People Collect Vintage Christmas Ornaments

When it comes to decorating for Christmas, there’s nothing better than traditional and cozy décor from our pasts. If you like the look of vintage blow molds and handmade stockings hung with care, collecting charming and rare Hallmark ornaments is the perfect way to spruce up your home for the holidays. 

Most people fall in love with the hobby after being handed down a Lenox ornament or Hallmark ornament set from a beloved relative. Hanging the baubles on the tree, year after year, becomes a nostalgic task on your decorating to-do list. These pieces are absolutely timeless, making them the perfect thing to pass down from one generation to another—take part in that sentimental tradition by adding a few of your own finds.

Other people collect rare Lenox ornaments (amongst other brands) to turn a profit. Many vendors and collectors will take the time to scour every storage unit, estate shop, and Highland antique mall to find antique ornaments. Odds are, those random baubles are being sold for a price point way beneath their worth—the vendor will then resell it in their shop and make a pretty penny for the holiday season! 

How Valuable Are Most Vintage Ornaments? 

The value of an ornament depends largely on its age, condition, and rarity, but most older ornaments can be valued between $10 and $30. It’s even more of a bargain if you purchase Lenox or Hallmark ornaments in bulk! Transform your home with holiday décor you love, or resell them at your booth. 

3 Ways to Tell if Your Christmas Ornament is Truly Vintage 

If you have a Lenox ornament set collecting dust in your storage or have stumbled across a few spare baubles in good condition at an antique mall near Chicago, take a closer look at these elements to determine their value and age:

1. Older Ornament Caps

If you look closely at traditional Hallmark ornaments, many of them have a small metal piece that connects the actual bauble with the hook—this is commonly referred to as the ornament “cap.” If the cap is a thicker shape and has a dull silver color, it’s likely a vintage design, while more shiny metallic caps signal a modern piece. 

2. Delicate and Lightweight Materials

The majority of modern ornaments are made from plastic or ceramic, but most vintage Lenox ornaments and Hallmark ornaments were handcrafted out of delicate mercury glass. When you find one, you can typically tell if it’s old or new by feeling the surface, as vintage ornaments are rarely smooth to the touch. 

Common Materials Used for Vintage Christmas Ornaments:

• Metal

• Paper

• Hand-blown glass

• Porcelain

• Glitter and tinsel (for accents)

3. Unique Overall Appearance

Most vintage ornaments are recognizable just by looking at them. While many brands try to replicate the authentic and festive look of Lenox ornaments and Hallmark ornaments, a few key differences set them apart from the real thing. Real antique baubles are rarely shiny, use a different bumpy type of glitter for accents, and often have a patina or color fading. 

Popular Retired Ornament Brands to Collect

Everyone’s taste in holiday décor is a little different—but luckily, there are plenty of styles to choose from! If you want a cohesive set to add to your Christmas collectibles, dedicate your time to searching for ornaments from these three top brands:

Classic Lenox Ornaments

Lenox has been a popular brand for home goods collectors since the 1980s, from the viral Spice Village to the plethora of Disney figurines and everything in between. When the brand released its first Lenox ornaments, the Snow Fantasies series, in 1996, it solidified its place in the hearts of ornament collectors everywhere. Every year, the brand retires or discontinues certain Lenox Christmas balls and other various ornaments, making them even more desirable to buyers. 

Known for their iconic ivory porcelain look and cute designs, Lenox ornaments can be spotted a mile away. Depending on the year of production, the designs are made from either glass or China, with silver- or gold-plated accents that bring the characters and designs to life. You can find Lenox ornaments individually or in complete sets if you’re lucky enough! 

Look Out for these Lenox Ornament Shapes:

• Snowman

• Christmas tree

• Stockings

• Santa Claus

• Teddy bears

• Candy canes

Charming Hallmark Ornaments

When Hallmark introduced its first Keepsake Ornament line in 1973, which was made up of six small glass balls and 12 yarn figures, it had no idea just how big it would soon become. Hallmark was the first company to market its baubles as sentimental keepsakes used to commemorate anything worth celebrating, from the holiday season to new babies in the family. Since that first Christmas season, over 8,500 different Hallmark ornament designs have been released, each featuring different classic Christmas figureheads, pop culture references, and milestone styles. 

With over 100 official series to search for, finding a Hallmark ornament in the wild at a Florida vendor mall is a common experience for collectors. From the classic round bauble painted with different intricate scenes to the whimsically shaped characters, there’s something for everyone’s holiday aesthetic. 

The best way to determine if you’ve found an authentically vintage Hallmark ornament is to assess the packaging. Keepsake Ornaments come in red boxes with official dates and titles, while any design from 2006 or later will have the word “series” somewhere on the packaging. 

Shiny Brite Ornaments

With bright, metallic hues that matched the trendy tinsel tree, Shiny Brite was the most popular ornament producer in the United States during the ‘40s and ‘50s. Each hand-blown glass design was treated internally with silver nitrate to give it its signature shine, and then it was lacquered and hand-painted on the outside. 

Shiny Brite ornaments come in various rainbow colors and shapes, including balls, tops, bells, icicles, teardrops, trees, finials, pinecones, and reflectors. If you find a very lightweight, delicate glass ornament with a classic star-shaped indent, you’ve likely stumbled upon a real Shiny Brite design! 

Vintage Ornament Storage

Storing your vintage Christmas ornaments is like tucking away little treasures until the next holiday season! To keep those sparkly baubles and charming Santas safe, think of yourself as a curator of holiday magic. Wrap each piece snugly in tissue paper or bubble wrap—no ornament left bare! Use dividers or egg cartons to keep them from playing bumper cars in storage. There are options for small storage, containers that you can carry but still hold a large amount and even deluxe ornament rolling storage chests to hold all of your vintage ornaments. Label everything, so next year’s decorating doesn’t turn into a treasure hunt (unless that’s your thing). And remember, keep them in a cool, dry place—because even Rudolph doesn’t like it too hot! Your future self will thank you for the extra care when it's time to deck the halls again.

This holiday season, style your home with nostalgia in mind. Stop by our antique malls to start your vintage ornament collection today!