Vintage ANTIQUE Halloween PAPER MACHE Pumpkin BLACK CAT Nut Cup Candy Container

Unfortunately, the person who bought this may not have known that it is a fairly new item made by Seasons Gone By. The seller, alerted to this fact, certainly did nothing to illuminate the questionable provenance. A long-time collector and reader of this blog contacted me recently to relate the email conversation she had with this seller. I reproduce this for you now: 

This cup was made in the 1990s by a company called Season Gone By and their mark has been removed from the underside. I suggest you correct the listing.

I know that company and am familiar with their reproductions, this is not made by seasons gone by, I bought it in a lot of Halloween antiques, some had scrapes on the bottom like this one and some did not, I just sold a vintage nut cut that was in the same lot, it was intact on the bottom and did not have any makers marks... There is no reason for me to assume this one is made by seasons gone by. I am very clear in my description about this item.

This is a dealer whose listings I'll be watching very carefully.

Antique German Halloween Pumpkin Head Candy Container ca1920

This is a fake, patterned on the one shown on page 132. This container has been faked in several sizes, all having some issue with the nose in common. Since the only authentic one has a repaired nose, there isn't a template for the fakers to use other than the one shown on page 132. This example is more cleverly rendered than others, given its use of a cotton batting nose, but it is still an object possessing decorative value only. An authentic example would bring ~$2000. 

Vintage Halloween Nodder Candy Containers Veggie Men Germany 5 different iob

These fantasy items were made after 1995 and have zero collectible value. This seller, unfortunately, is impervious to learning, as she and I have had many interactions wherein she insists these kinds of things have some true age to them. There is no documentary evidence that these abominations were made prior to around 1995 when they began appearing at antiques shows. The seller bangs on about what a bargain a buyer will get purchasing these as a set, but unless you want to pour money down a drain for items that have decorative value only, steer clear of these items. Many of this seller's offerings in the Vintage Halloween category are fantasy items, so be sure to ask many questions if you choose to do business with her. 

Vintage Halloween DOUBLE SIDED Pumpkin Gingerbread Man Candy Container German

There is no record of this design existing prior to the mid-1990s. The seller states that he or she bought it in Ohio in the 1980s, but this recollection is not correct. This uninteresting design was among the crapalanche of reproductions and fakes that began plaguing our hobby in the mid-1990s when manufacturers began to realize the truly vintage German candy containers were bringing strong dollars. There were few references (and no web sites) back then to steer collectors away from such garbage. Don't be fooled!

Rare Halloween Paper Mache Removable Pumpkin Head w/Spring Legs Riding Rooster

This is an item recently made, perhaps by a folk artist. The creator used old springs for the legs. The rest of the detailing lets you know it is of recent manufacture: the too-smooth finish, the illogical wear patterns and the riveted base.  Although it is a nice piece of craftsmanship overall, I object to these kinds of items as they are not indelibly marked somehow so that newer collectors aren't fooled into spending money on them thinking they have some age to them. I contacted the seller to tell her I didn't care for her skeevy description. This is part of her response: Vintage" is a catchall word that means "not brand-new." Sellers often describe an item as vintage if they don't know how old the item is, but figure it was made at least a decade ago. Hmmm...that is a much looser definition than is commonly used and seems to indicate the seller doesn't think this item is too old herself. 
I sure do wish eBay would pour some of their considerable resources into policing their categories. Listings like this can be confusing to newer members of our fun hobby. 

This faux vintage item sold for $78.77, a waste of money. 

RARE DRESDEN? HALLOWEEN JACK O LANTERN CANDY CONTAINER-SHAPE OF GUITAR

I saw this listing and knew that it was not an old item, or one even particularly well made. However, thanks to both Janelle Henry and Angel Cullen, who posted about this on the Vintage Halloween FB group, we now know that this is a bit of folk art made in China for "Yvonne & Julia -Spinning Wheel." The seller has done the right thing and has ended the listing.