Collector shares joy of vintage Santas.

By Lia Russel l

The Virginian-Pilot

Sheila Williams believes in Santa Claus.

So it's no wonder the 67-year-old great grandmother loves this time of year.

"Christmas is a magical time," Williams said. "Who's more magical than Santa Claus?"

As a tribute to the jolly fat man, Williams has amassed a collection of more than 200 vintage Santa Claus figures that date to the early 1900s. She claims to have one of the most extensive collections in the area and also sells them at two consignment stores, Attic Treasures in Ghent and Bay Cottage in Ocean View.

Williams has Santas made of cast iron, plastic, ceramic, papier mache, chalk, tin - even a treasured handmade piece constructed from an old Reader's Digest. They are big, small, still, animated, musical and lighted.

From her childhood memories, Williams recalls her mother decorating extensively for the holidays - a legacy she inherited.

"When my children were young, we lived in a 14-room house with 12-foot ceilings, and we used to decorate each room," said Williams, who is a mother of six. "It would take days."

She lives in an apartment now and doesn't decorate as much. She's given many of her beloved holiday items to her offspring. She also has had to slow down because of her health. Two years ago, Williams was diagnosed with cervical cancer and while she is now in remission, she no longer has the energy for vast holiday garnish.

She still collects her Santas, however, and rummages through yard sales and thrift stores for treasures she said are becoming harder to find.

"Thrift stores tend to throw out the vintage items and keep the junk that's from the dollar store," Williams said. "I don't want my Santas to look perfect. They should have issues. I think their flaws make them more attractive."

Williams cautions against buying antiques over the Internet.

"Online is a dangerous place to go," she said. "Everything looks wonderful on camera. If you don't know much about vintage items, it's easy to get swindled."

Williams' Santas are cherished friends, each with personality traits ("This one is being petulant today!") and a history she has researched.

"This is one of the first Japanese tin-bodied Santas from the early 1950s," she said, tapping the hollow metallic body of a 14-or-so-inch figure. "It's an offshoot of the first tin robots they made. He's battery-operated. He walks and rings a bell."

Her favorite Santa is a circa 1940s store display that is priced at $225. The most expensive piece she ever sold was an early 1900s German papier mache Santa with royal blue pants and a real rabbit fur beard. It was "adopted" for $280.

Williams, who also is a folk artist, said her business is more about "finding homes" for items in her collection than about making money.

"If someone asks 'Why is that so expensive?' then I usually won't sell to them, because they obviously don't know much about the item," Williams said. "I want people who buy my Santas to appreciate them as much as I do."

The vintage items often evoke sentimental memories from older customers, Williams said, reminding them of holiday decorations from their youth.

"You get a special feeling when you see them," she said. "It's all about that emotional connection."

In addition to her cherished Santas, Williams has other vintage holiday items, including real aluminum tinsel and old felt stockings.

During the 14 years she has sold items from her rented space at Attic Treasures, Williams has developed a following.

"People will stop in when they're visiting from out of town," she said. "Some will just stop by to say hello and bring their children to see the types of decorations they grew up with."

And where does the maven of holiday decor stand on the real versus fake Christmas tree debate?

"Real, of course," she said. "Anyone that comes in here is a real tree person."

Lia Russell, 222-5829, lia.russell@pilotonline.com

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hyunsoo leo kim | the virginian-pilot

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