Ornament: Knee Hugger Pixie Elf, Gray-Green Felt, Japan, Vintage 1950s

With a red star collar, a brass bell on his cap, and a gentle sideways glance, this gray-green-suited pixie is the quieter cousin of the classic mid-century knee hugger elf, made in Japan in the 1950s.

• Maker: Unmarked
• Materials: Felt body and cap, molded rubber face, knit cap cuff, metal jingle bell
• Dimensions: 5.5" tall seated
• Origin: Japan (original "Made in Japan" label on back)
• Era: Vintage 1950s
• Condition: Very Good. The felt has faded overall with age from its original green to a soft gray-green; the red collar remains bright, and the face paint is intact. Please review photos closely before purchasing, as all sales are final.

He wears a pointed gray-green felt cap with a white knit cuff and a brass jingle bell, a star-cut red felt collar, and white mittens clasped around his knees. His hand-painted face has softer, less wide-eyed features than many knee huggers, with blue eyes glancing to the side, fine lashes, rosy cheeks, and a small red smile. A hanging cord is included, so he's ready for the tree, or he sits just as happily on a shelf or mantel edge.

For the collector who wants more than the usual red elf, or anyone building a mid-century Christmas display with a little variety.

Knee hugger elves were mass-produced in Japan during the 1950s and 1960s for the American market. They were sold inexpensively in dime stores and became a fixture of mid-century holiday decorating. Their fixed, folded pose let them sit on nearly any ledge, and their painted big-eyed faces reflected the whimsical style of Japanese holiday exports of the era. They have found a second wave of popularity since 2005, when The Elf on the Shelf by Carol Aebersold and Chanda Bell introduced a new generation to the watchful Christmas elf. That book sent many collectors looking for the originals that inspired the look.

Want to make it a pair? Browse our shop for our vintage red knee hugger elf, the perfect companion for him on the tree.