It seems I haven’t seen one of these desirable four-sided lanterns being offered for auction in a while. Produced by the Knorpp Candy Company with a patent date of July 11, 1916, it was marketed as a Four in One Lantern. The imagery isn’t very complex, yet it resonates long after you see the four unique sides. Knorpp also issued four tiaras with each replicating one of the lantern’s four sides. Given the rough condition of this example, I am surprised it received a bid at the opening price. To see the one in the collection, the envelope and one of the tiaras, please turn to page 128.
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Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.
Knorpp Halloween Nightowl Paper Tiara 1916
If you check out my post just a few down the page, you'll see the lantern from which this tiara derives. First off, it is nice to see a few truly rare items being listed on Ebay rather than the schlock that has been clogging the site's auction arteries seemingly for forever.
Make no mistake about it, this tiara is rare! I have seen it precisely twice in my nearly 25 years of ardent collecting. So, what's the story on it?
As my post below indicates, the Knorpp Candy Company made a hard-to-find four-panel lantern. What is less well known is that they made a tiara based on each side of the lantern. The tiaras are made from a medium stock paper that didn't hold up well given their intended use, no doubt partially explaining these tiaras true rarity. (Another reason is that I don't think they sold well, so were almost surely manufactured for a season or two with limited distribution.) I own only the devil. I have seen the owl twice and have yet to see the cat or the ghoul.
06/08 Update: This tiara brought a solid $271.66.
Four-Sided American Lantern made by Knorpp Candy Company, Brooklyn NY
Here is an excerpt of what my book says of this lantern on page 111: Although the lantern itself is somewhat common, the envelope is not. The latter does shed light on when the lantern was manufactured. Described on the envelope as the "Most Attractive Lantern Made For Decorating Porches, Dining Rooms, and Ball Rooms," it was patented by the Knorpp Candy Company of 56-60 Scholes Street of Brooklyn, New York, on July 11, 1916. The lantern itself only references that a patent has been applied for, so the date on the envelope is significant in expanding our knowledge of this piece...
