LANSING, Mich. — Halloween is the second most popular holiday in the United States when it comes to decorating and partying so it was apropos that Oct. 31 was the date of an auction that featured decorations from the past. However, it was the Christmas decorations that garnered the most interest. The auction was conducted by Glen Rairigh, Americana Auctions.

Among the items that Rairigh found in a bag destined for the trash was a Dresden elk Christmas ornament from 1928 that crossed the block for $325.

Among the other Christmas items were a Santa Claus jack-in-the-box showing Santa jumping out of a chimney that sold for $175; a Scrappy Christmas tree lights set, complete in the box, that earned $145; and a Hubley sleigh with reindeer, circa 1880-1890, crossed the block for $85.

Candy is an expected treat at Christmas. Chocolate candy in the shape of Santa or a tree or some other symbol of Christmas is always a favorite treat found in a sock. A St. Nicholas on a donkey candy mold saw $125 and a standing St. Nicholas candy mold earned $140. A seated snowman candy container from Germany earned $165. Another candy container from Germany was a boy with a horn sitting in an egg that sold for $300; and a George Washington candy container crossed the block for $150.

Christmas wouldn’t be complete without a Christmas tree and they seemed to come in a variety of materials besides the traditional fir ones. A small feather tree, complete with berries found a $250 final bid and a hard-to-find blue and green colored aluminum Christmas tree earned $150.

Among the Halloween items were a noisemaker with a devil figure that crossed the block for $205; a Halloween pumpkin head smoking nodder earned $200; and a 3-inch celluloid black cat sitting on a jack-o-lantern crossed the block for $225.

A Halloween apron made of crepe paper and decorated with a jack-o-lantern and a black cat sold for $140; a black papiér-maché cat lantern earned $110; and a collapsible cardboard lantern saw $105.

In addition to the large quantity of holiday items many other great pieces crossed the block.

An oil on canvas by Arthur Meadows (British 1843-1907) Trawlers Off Barraque was painted in 1886 and earned a final bid of $1,200.

An oil on canvas seascape by Massachusetts artist Charles A. Sweet crossed the block for $300, as did a watercolor from the late 1600s in the style of Rembrandt in an ornate oval frame.

Original Louis Icart etchings included: Eve that sold for $600; Winter Bouquet that earned $400; and Faust that saw a final bid of $575. An original Hart etching entitled Chinese Lanterns crossed the block for $325.

There were also items that appealed to the Art Deco aficionado. An Art Deco lady holding a parrot and on a marble base sold for $175; an Art Deco nude out walking her dogs earned $225; and a charming Art Deco bronze desk sculpture that appeared to be a dancer crossed the block at $175.

Among the lamps there were also Art Deco items. An Art Deco lamp featuring a nude and a globe saw a final bid of $225; a bronze lamp with a marble base and featuring an Art Deco “Butterfly Girl” earned $90; an Art Deco lamp with a nude with a satin glass disc earned $155; and a beautiful black satin glass Art Deco dancer with a satin white peacock back glass found a final bid of $125.

A couple of the other lamps that found new owners were an Aladdin lamp with a semi-nude and a dog that earned $155; and a bent panel slag glass lamp that crossed the block for $225.

Marilyn Monroe continues to have her admirers. Here a Marilyn Monroe pinup calendar from 1954 found a final bid of $185.

Among the furniture items the Arts and Crafts pieces proved to be the most desirable with an Arts and Crafts bookcase with sliding doors selling for $200; and a two-door china cabinet finding a final bid of $150.

Prices quoted are the hammer price and do not reflect the 10 percent buyer’s premium.

Contact:

(800) 919-1950,

www.americana

auctions.com.