German Devil Lantern, ca. 1930
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GUEST:
I've been collecting holiday items about 30 years.
APPRAISER:
What drew you into holiday pieces?
GUEST:
Christmas, the old Santa Clauses, and color, and...
APPRAISER:
And you put them out every year?
GUEST:
Yes.
APPRAISER:
Where'd you get the devil lantern?
GUEST:
I bought it about ten years ago at a flea market here.
APPRAISER:
Okay, and how much did you pay for it?
GUEST:
I bought that lantern and another one that is in mint condition for $150.
APPRAISER:
Wow. And the Santa?
GUEST:
The Santa I bought recently from a dealer
APPRAISER:
Mm-hmm.
GUEST:
and, uh... paid, I think $250 for it.
APPRAISER:
Okay. Well, let's start with the devil lantern.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
The best lanterns come from Germany. They were made in Germany from the early 1900s all the way up to World War II and they're the most collected today. Finding a molded devil lantern like this is very unusual. He's cardboard. He's got his original horns and ears, which is also unusual. They were made with paper inserts as you can see in the eyes, the nose, and the mouth. When you put the candle in and you lit it, and it would flicker, gave that kind of eerie glow--
GUEST:
Yes.
APPRAISER:
that you would get on Halloween night. Well, too often, of course, it would catch fire, the inserts would go up in smoke. So to have these here adds a lot of value to the lantern. Also has an original base to it. It's been a little shellacked and a little faded, but value on it would still...I'd put it at least $400 to $600 as an auction estimate...
GUEST:
Excellent.
APPRAISER:
even with the little tear here. Now, let's take a look at the Santa. You said you bought that recently for $250. I'll tell you, I've been collecting for years. Occasionally, we all get fooled and, unfortunately, on the Santa, he is new.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
These should be tagged as new and sold as new, but some dealers are taking them and selling them as old and it's not just the Santas. It's also a lot of Halloween material and you've got to be very, very careful when you're buying them. You've got to be able to say to the dealer, ask them straight out, "Hey, is this new or is this old? I'm not sure." So you had a feeling it might be new?
GUEST:
Yeah, yes, that's why I brought it.
APPRAISER:
But it didn't stop you from buying it.
GUEST:
No.
APPRAISER:
And you still love doing this?
GUEST:
Yes.
APPRAISER:
And, look, you've also been able to come on here and been a great sport-- which I appreciate-- and you've helped to educate a lot of other people who won't make the same mistake. Thank you for doing that.
GUEST:
You're welcome.
Appraisal Details
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