Ornamenten Groteske

Spooked by German diecut availability through the 1970's, (pushing experts' guide dates beyond the 1920s-1940s)? As mentioned in the blog introduction - (see addition of point #6) - content is offered here from historical print (re: vintage discoveries), so I welcome counterpoint (likewise from historical print, that is) that does indeed seclude German diecuts to a time before the mid-century. In fact, I would be most grateful if anyone would provide an actual account of German diecut manufacturers which, to my knowledge, does not exist?

This leads us to yet another expansion for the availability of certain German diecuts (previously glimpsed in the entry Halloween in Germany: 1955).  In a similar pirate theme, we now have this Narrenfibel 1960 catalog (shown here scanned from the vintage item) that offered its German audience the chance to buy these embossed cardboard items - a Hellcat, Skeleton, and Port Lantern... (see the English translation below the close-up of page 51).

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17. Hafenlanterne, imit. (imitation) Schmiedeeisin 40 cm gross mit grotesken Eulen, Hexen, Kater Ornamenten auf orangefarbenem transparentpapier

17. Imitation-ironwork port lantern 15 3/4" tall with grotesque owls , witch , cat ornamentation on an orange transparent paper. Item 4.50

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22. Totenskelett, aus Pappe, gepragt und naturgetreu bemalt, mit beweglichen Gliedern 120 cm gross.

22. Dead skeleton , made ​​of cardboard , embossed and painted lifelike , with movable limbs. 47 1/4" tall . Item 7.50.

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24. Hoellenkater 40 cm gross aus Pappe mit groenleuchtenden Augen. paarweise recht, oder linksschauend lieferbar. stuck 2.50  

24. Hellcat 15 3/4” tall made of cardboard with big bright eyes . paired right or left facing . Item 2.50

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Halloween in Germany:1955

The title of this entry is something of a deliberate misnomer. It follows on the heels of two previous entries Diecut Bubble? and Seven Spooks in Narrenfibel 1968 / 1970 concerning the presence of vintage products that appeared on either side of the Atlantic. Each previous entry was intended to dispel a centric notion that... "because we celebrate Halloween here in North America, there couldn't possibly be any of that imagery (as vintage decor) found or sold elsewhere in the world." Surprise!

While it's been apparent that European and Asian festival items have snuck into past price guides, it was about two years ago that I began to also question availability dates (not necessarily production dates). This was due to discovering vintage "Halloween" decorations in German-language catalogs printed as recently as the 1970's. (See Seven Spooks in Narrenfibel 1968 / 1970). This catalog displays themes for Germany's Karneval (www.german-way.com/history-and-culture/holidays-and-celebrations/fasching-and-karneval/) with pages containing what North American collectors had considered Hallowe'en product runs circa 1920's-1930's. That's curious math --- an additional timeframe of 25 to 40 years that these appeared somewhere on the market?

1968 / 1970 catalog (Germany)

So here is yet another catalog recently discovered from 1955...! Notice page 16, with the pirate theme. There you will find a devil (marketed as a Neptunian creature with a trident), a skeleton (as a pirate's dead-man bones), a black cat (as a sea creature?), and a lantern (as a pirate-ship light fixture down at the Underwater Bar).... once again, all previously considered to be rare because of limited North American availability. What does this information (in addition to the recent preponderance of German diecuts in the second-hand market --- see Diecut Bubble?) do to change the collectible landscape?

Translation update 11-22-2015. Relying on online translation tools with some logical (?) adjustments, here is a rough approximation for items of note on page 16:

725 Lanterne aus schwarzem karton mit augest (aufgeklappt?). Grotesken figuren, 40 cm groß stück 4.50

725 Lantern of black cardboard, expandable (?), grotesque figures, 15 3/4" tall..... piece 4.50

735 Kater - 40 cm, Pappe geprägt, schwarz bemalt, mit grünen leuchtenden augen (auch paarweise, links und recht schauend lieferbar)  stück 1.50 

735 Tomcat - 15 3/4", embossed cardboard , black painted, with greens shining eyes (available in pairs, left and right-facing)..... piece 1.50

738 Fledermaus-teufel, 40 cm, bemalte, flach geprägt figure stück 1.50

738 Bat-devil, 15 3/4", painted, flat embossed figure..... piece 1:50

750 Totenskelett, 120 cm groß, aus starker pappe geprägt und natürlich bemalt...  stück 7.50

750 Dead skeleton , 120 cm tall, from strong cardboard and painted naturally.... piece 7.50

Halloween Mood Lighting

Offering some night photos of this spooky triangle shade that appeared in vendor supply catalogs of the 1930's. The shade collapses flat, folding on a deliberate line through the middle of the owl. (It's a peculiar design decision that over time has usually reduced the quality of that particular pane). Original method for maintaining the expanded shape of the lantern is currently unknown by this blogger - (and information is welcome). 

Note that the item (shown below in excerpt from an original 1937 catalog) is advertised as a die cut which is the industrial "cookie-cutter" process that made so many vintage holiday items, (and not just 2-D flat decor). See earlier blog entry from December 2014: Halloween Diecut Quiz.