A wonderfully colorful survivor of the mid-century Christmas tree, this complete boxed set of 12 Fantasia Brand glass Christmas ornaments was made in Poland and retains its charming original Santa-illustrated presentation box.
Each approximately 2 ¼-inch glass ball combines brilliant jewel-tone colors—including vivid pink, turquoise blue, gold, silver, soft pink and other metallic shades—with dark glitter accents arranged in an assortment of quintessentially mid-century patterns. The dozen includes approximately four ornaments in each of three decorative treatments: segmented or “quilted” designs, circular or concentric patterns, and sweeping banded or fringed designs.
No two seem quite identical, giving the box the wonderful handmade variation collectors look for in early Polish Christmas glass.
All 12 ornaments retain their metal caps, and many retain what appear to be their original green hanging cords. The ornaments show expected age-related wear to the delicate painted, silvered and glittered surfaces, but the set remains remarkably vibrant and displayable.
Especially appealing is the original Fantasia Brand box, decorated in red, cream and green with a jaunty mid-century Santa Claus, stylized Christmas tree and little snow-covered house. One side is marked “FANTASIA BRAND” and “POLAND.” The box also retains its W. T. Grant Co. store sticker showing the original 59¢ price, an evocative piece of American department-store Christmas history.
The cardboard box shows age and storage wear, including surface loss across the upper “CHRISTMAS” lettering, edge and corner wear, creasing, and a torn/damaged upper area. The original compartmented cardboard insert and tissue remain with the ornaments.
Whether displayed together on a vintage-inspired Christmas tree or preserved in their wonderfully graphic original box, this complete dozen captures the bright, exuberant look of a 1950s American Christmas decorated with imported Polish glass ornaments.
Collector’s Note
The survival of the original packaging adds considerably to the character of this set. The bright Santa Claus, stylized tree and simple red-green graphics evoke postwar Christmas merchandising, while the W. T. Grant Co. 59¢ sticker connects these Polish-made ornaments directly to the American five-and-dime shopping experience. Kept together for decades, the complete dozen offers both Christmas nostalgia and a glimpse of mid-century retail history.
Why Collect Vintage Polish Christmas Ornaments?
Postwar Polish glass ornaments are sought for their delicate glass construction, saturated colors, hand-finished appearance and extraordinary variety of decoration. Unlike today's perfectly uniform ornaments, small variations and signs of age give early examples their character.
Complete boxed sets are particularly appealing because the original packaging documents how these fragile decorations were originally marketed and stored. Here, the combination of a full dozen ornaments, Fantasia graphics and surviving W. T. Grant price sticker makes the set especially evocative of an American mid-century Christmas.
Condition: All 12 glass ornaments are present and appear intact, with no broken ornaments observed. All retain their metal ornament caps, and many retain vintage green hanging cords that appear original. As expected for ornaments of this age, there is scattered wear, spotting, oxidation and loss to the silvered/color finishes and glitter decoration.
The original cardboard box has significant age and storage wear, including torn and missing surface paper along the upper front, particularly through the word “CHRISTMAS,” along with edge wear, creasing, corner wear and other surface loss. The cardboard compartment insert and vintage tissue remain.
Display Appeal: Mid-Century Christmas in a Box
These are perfect for someone creating a 1950s or retro Christmas tree. The hot pink, turquoise, silver and gold are much livelier than the traditional red-and-green palette and would look terrific mixed with vintage reflectors, Shiny Brite ornaments, tinsel and old Christmas lights.
The box itself deserves to be displayed. Could easily display open on a tabletop, shelf or under a small aluminum tree with several ornaments spilling visually from the compartments. The graphic Santa is terrific.
