This genre, comprised of few items (Japanese tin mechanicals), has really been hot. There was a time when even fine examples like this one would linger before someone bought it at prices far below what this one brought. How I wish I would have kept mine!
Blog
Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.
RARE Vintage Japan Halloween Porcelain Jack o Lantern JOL Covered Trinket Box
The vintage Halloween market is certainly not a static one. Market segments fall in and out of favor. Candles used to be as cold as the Arctic, now they are warm. Small paper used to be an affordable niche. There is little affordable about that segment now. These Japanese porcelain items used to be so cold you could more profitably use them for skeet practice. Now look at what even examples in less-than-perfect condition bring. Collect what you love and hope those segments increase in value, but don’t count on it.
Halloween Vintage Toy Pumpkin (Germany?) Children's tea set sugar
The seller contacted me for my opinion on this assemblage. I said that although I couldn’t be sure of the teapot, all the other pieces were produced in Japan not Germany.
Vintage 1940's Halloween Paper Mache Jack O Lantern Pumpkin with original insert
The Japanese made few JOLs - or conversely few have survived. I sold two in my May 2018 auction. One of these, Lot 79, was identical or close in size to this one. Here is how that lot description read:
”The Japanese made a half-hearted attempt to penetrate the JOL market dominated by Germany in the 1920s and through the mid-1930s. They were largely unsuccessful. Consequently, JOLs produced in Japan, especially early compo-wash-over-cardboard examples are breath-takingly rare. This one measures ~4.75” high by ~5.5” across. (All measurements exclude the bale, if present.) The multi-piece inserts are original.”
That lot sold for a scant $66 - a true bargain. This one is in better condition. I feel these are rare enough that they should bring $100-150.
07/28 Update: Inexplicably, this sold for only $56.69.
Vintage Smiling Jack-O-Lantern Halloween Squeaker Satchel Candy Box!
This is an item made in Japan modeled after the superior such items made in Germany. The latter are significantly better made. This derivative object was made during the 1920s and has a value much less than a German counterpart.
01/31 Update: This sold for $202.50, right around where I expected this item to sell.
VINTAGE 1950’S HALLOWEEN WITCH CLICKER TOY
Here's a tin litho clicker that I haven't seen for sale in a while. In terms of Halloween output, Japanese material is largely derivative and poorly made, hence the market for their items has never taken off. There are exceptions, though, and this visually engaging diminutive noisemaker is one of them. I'm glad to have one as part of the collection. If you like strong design coupled with a modicum of rarity, this is just the item for you.
09/04 Update: This sold for a very strong $169.50.
Vintage Halloween Orange & Black JOL /w Tongue Noisemaker / Clicker
Generally, vintage Halloween designs from Japan are derivative and forgettable. Not in this case! This tin litho clicker design is energetic, fun and just plain weird. This was produced sometime during the 1930s. Right now, the bidding is at $51 with over six days to go. I've seen some of the better Japanese designs go for ~$100. It'll be fun to see where this ends.
03/01 Update: This great clicker made in japan sold for $153.50.
Old Rare 1920s German Pumpkin Face Cdbd Suitcase Squeaker w/ Candy Container
I think this is an item made in Japan during the 1920s as an homage to the first-rate German pieces with a similar look made from ~1916-1921. The German pieces have eyes that lean toward each other rather than away as with the piece up for auction. None of the German items from this set have crepe paper sides. (Most Japanese candy containers liberally use crepe paper.) Its value is about half of what a German-made item would bring. I would opine that at its current price, it is already fully valued, if not more so.
02/08 Update: This sold for $316.
Antique Vintage German Halloween Child Pumpkin Tea Set Anthropomorphic Pitcher
It is difficult to differentiate German and Japanese porcelain tea set items from photos alone. We know that the Japanese copied a limited number of items from the more competently made German porcelain line. We also know that there is no evidence that the Japanese output was ever contemporaneously marked. I feel this creamer is likely one made in Japan for three reasons. It has a plethora of knobby protrusions. The lip of the creamer is inelegantly large. There is an open area where the handle ends inside the creamer. The German made creamers do not have this opening. Given that this is likely a Japan-made item, be cautious when bidding. SGV for the German creamers is $175. One made in Japan should bring substantially less.
05/25 Update: I wasn't surprised this creamer fetched $132.50, as these Japanese porcelain items typically fetch far less than their German made counterparts.
antique Witch Halloween candy container
The workmanship of this container is so poor that I feel this is something made in Japan not Germany. The hands, rather than being composition, are merely clumps of spun cotton. The drab swaddling of crepe paper throughout also denotes a lack of finishing skill so unlike most German-made items. Being an item made in Japan, the overall value doesn't approach this seller's opening price of $300.
04/16 Update: The market is typically uninterested in such items, shown by the seller has relisted this with an opening price of $150 or a BIN of $200. I feel fair market value is $80.
Pre-War Japan Old Fashioned Telephone Candy Container
The seller should have a hard time moving this for his BIN price of $625. These kinds of Japanese items were cheaply made and look cheap. The Japanese tried to emulate the German designs and utterly failed. These sorts of vintage items have not developed strong values in the resale market for as long as I've collected. I don't expect this to change.
5 New Old Stock Bagged Vintage Halloween Decorations. Cats, Witch and Scarecrow!
This assortment consists of designs originally conceived by Beistle but later copied by the Japanese. Whether this copying was done with Beistle's cooperation, or even knowledge, is not known. These copies were done in the latter half of the 1960s and have very modest value as the ending price for this lot was $49.95. The older originals, clearly marked "Made in USA," have greater value.
