• A vintage Christmas Elf doll hanging ornament, featuring a blonde plastic face, red velvet suit, green felt collar, and a gold bell on a red hat, set against a plain white background.
  • Two small elf-shaped ornaments in red and white clothing with green collars, standing side by side on a plain white background.
  • A small plush Christmas elf doll wearing a red outfit and pointed red hat with white trim, seated against a plain white background.
  • A small elf-shaped ornament or figurine wearing a red outfit with a white-trimmed hat and a light green neck scarf, shown against a plain white background.
  • A gold four-petal flower drop earring featuring a central green gemstone, shown against a plain light gray background.
  • A vintage Christmas Elf doll ornament in a red and white suit with a small gold bell on its hat, shown against a plain white background.
  • Vintage Christmas elf doll with blonde hair, blue eyes, wearing a red Santa hat and red outfit with a beige collar, photographed against a white background.
  • A small red Christmas gnome ornament made from a red knit glove, with a cream-colored face and a green leafy collar, hanging against a plain white background.
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Antigo Trunk

Ornament: Knee Hugger Pixie Elf, Red Felt, Japan, Vintage 1950s

Ornament: Knee Hugger Pixie Elf, Red Felt, Japan, Vintage 1950s

$40.00
$40.00
Sale Sold out
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Collar

Curled up with his knees tucked to his chin and a brass bell at the tip of his cap, this little red pixie is the knee hugger elf that watched over so many mid-century Christmas trees. He still wears the same sly, sideways smile.

  • Maker: Unmarked
  • Materials: Felt body and cap, molded rubber face, knit cap cuff, metal jingle bell
  • Dimensions: 6.5" tall seated
  • Origin: Japan (original "Made in Japan" label on back)
  • Era: Vintage 1950s
  • Condition: Very Good. The red felt remains rich with light age wear, and the face paint is intact. One elf has two very light red dots on his face, not damage, mfg. flaw.  Collar color varies by elf: choose Green for the darker collar, or Faded Gray-Green for the one that has mellowed with age (see variant photos). Please review photos closely before purchasing, as all sales are final.

He wears a tall red felt cap with a white knit cuff and a brass jingle bell, a pointed star-cut felt collar, and white mittens clasped around his knees. His face is hand-painted with wide blue eyes, fine lashes, rosy cheeks, and a small red smile. A red 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 filling out a vintage Christmas display, or anyone who remembers a pixie just like him peeking out from their grandmother's tree.

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.

Looking for his gray-green-suited cousin with red collar? Browse our shop for our vintage gray-green knee hugger elf, a charming pair for the tree.

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