• Blog
  • About
  • DIY
  • Victorian on Van Buren
  • Contact
  • Links
  • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

The Vettel Farm

DIY, Home Decor, & Lifestyle blog

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Vintage Paper Mache Pumpkins!

October 9, 2021 by thevettelfarm

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! My great pumpkins Charlie, are all vintage paper mache pumpkins. These pumpkins have the characteristic spooky grin and colorful, charismatic painted insert. They are oh so fragile and worn with years of spooky delight. Here are a few tidbits on the history of these ghastly grins and how to determine if they are real or reproduction. They are one of my most favorite vintage Halloween collectibles!

History

Fall here at the farm is a time of harvest. This is where jack-o-lanterns originated, as they were often made out of large turnips or other fruits and vegetables. In Scotland and Ireland, neighbors would hang these jack-lanterns to create a path to the harvest festival

These vegetable lanterns were given the name from a legend about a man name Jack. Legend says that when Jack died, his soul could not move on to heaven or hell, so he wandered the countryside with his vegetable lantern until Judgement day. Over time the pumpkin was substituted for the turnip and it is now what we know as the jack-o-lantern.

The earliest jack-o-lanterns of the 20th century were made out of pressed paper that had eyes, a nose and a mouth that was backed with colored paper. When the candle was put inside it grinned!

Much of the earliest Halloween decor was made in Germany, but after WWI much of Halloween decor production moved to America. In the 1930’s the beloved paper mache pumpkins were created. Jack-o-lanterns were made using pressed paper first, then to paper mache, tin and eventually plastic.

The paper mache material resembles an egg carton and they often had a tissue paper insert that was painted with the eyes, nose and mouth detail. These paper mache pumpkins are highly collectible and can often be difficult to find. Think about it this way, when you put a candle in a paper mache pumpkin, they often do not live long! The tissue paper inserts are even more rare because fire and paper don’t mix well.

Real or Repro?

Halloween reproduction collectibles are one of the most mass produced categories of all. Often times it can be very difficult to distinguish between the two because they are often handmade much like their original predecessors. One of the tell-tale ways to distinguish a reproduction – is the finish. 1930’s paper mache jack-o-lanterns often have a smooth finish. The reproductions created today have more of a crackly appearance. You can see below in this photo, the pumpkin in the middle has a much more crinkly finish than the two on the outsides.

Another characteristic to determine if it is vintage, is the lantern paper. Antique pumpkins will have lantern paper that is translucent. This helped diffuse the light from the candle. Vintage papers will also have wear on BOTH sides of the paper, whereas reproductions often have the appearance of wear on one side. True vintage paper mache pumpkins can go for a very pretty penny. I have been lucky to find a few at estate sales for lower prices, but often times they can cost in excess of $100 and more if it includes the original tissue paper insert. Jack-o-lanterns in cat shapes, witches or quirky vegetable shapes are very rare and can cost hundreds.

There is nothing more that brings me joy to see a small candle in the bottom of these classic Halloween treasures and to think to myself, “I’m so glad you never caught fire!” I hope you will be able to spot these scary pumpkins on your next treasure hunting trip and maybe someday find one for your Halloween decor!

Shop below to bring home your very own vintage paper mache pumpkin this holiday season!

 

 

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X

You might also enjoy...

Thrifted Spooky Cats & Dogs
How to Create an Antique Frosted Window
Vintage Postcard/Envelope DIY Art
Plaid on Plaid on Plaid Christmas Bedroom
Three Things Thursday
The Best Vintage Thanksgiving Decor
3 Tips for the Perfect Easter Table
Quilted Ghost Garland
The Vintage Hunt – March Edition
Colorful Vintage Inspired Christmas Decor
Vintage Camping Bridal Shower
Sledding Party
Four Leaf Clover Ciabatta Bread

Filed Under: antiques, Uncategorized Tagged With: antique pumpkin, antiques, halloween, halloween antiques, halloween decor, jack-o-lantern, paper mache, pumpkin, vintage halloween, vintage jack-o-lantern, vintage paper mache pumpkin, vintage pumpkin, vintage pumpkins

Previous Post Favorite Fall & Holiday Sweatshirts
Next Post Hearth & Hand Vintage Inspired Christmas Finds 2021

WELCOME

WELCOME

~
Hello, I'm Courtney, also know as The Vettel Farm! I’m a proud wife and mom to three little girls living on our farm in western North Dakota. I love all things crafting, cooking, creating, and collecting. I am a school counselor by day, but vintage loving DIY gal by night.
~

FOLLOW ME

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

CATEGORIES

  • antiques
  • Canning
  • Children
  • Crafts
  • DIY
  • Gardening
  • Holidays
  • Home Decor
  • jadeite
  • Milk Glass
  • Parties
  • Recipes
  • Renovation
  • Uncategorized
  • Vintage

Tags

Antique antiques books Book Wall Christmas Christmas decor Depression Glass diy Easter fall fall decor fall decorating fourth of july Garden glassware halloween halloween decor historic home historic homes home decor Jadeite Jadite old home love patriotic patriotic decor recipes renovation Spring Spring Decor St. Patrick's Day sweatshirts target target finds Valentine's Day vintage vintage christmas vintage decor vintage diy vintage inspired vintage kitchen Vintage Recipes vintage style Vintage Valentine winter winter decor

NEWSLETTER UPDATES

Leave me your email to receive blog updates, tips, and shopping offers just for you! Don´t miss any updates!

LATEST POSTS

Vintage Easter Desserts Inspired by Vintage Advertisements

DIY Match Striker with Vintage Glassware

Thrifted Spooky Cats & Dogs

Pack the Perfect “Vintage Style” Picnic

FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM

thevettelfarm

All things V I N T A G E
Helping you embrace the charm of yesteryear ✨
DIYS - Holiday - Decor - Recipes - Style
Find my Etsy + LTK + Blog ⬇️

I am adding in all the final patriotic details at I am adding in all the final patriotic details at our house for a fabulous ✨vintage summer✨!

What decor pieces scream vintage SUMMER to you? 🇺🇸☀️🍦⚾️ ⛺️👙🍉🌻⛱️

#summerdecor #vintagesummer #vintagehomestyle #summervibes
Gardening can be SO MUCH WORK in the beginning bu Gardening can be  SO MUCH WORK in the beginning but it is truly worth the work in the end. Every year we plant A LOT of pumpkins to use in all our fall decorations. We plant them from seed and transplant to the garden. I can’t wait to see all of them this fall. 

Fall is 117 days away, but who’s counting! 🙋🏻‍♀️

#pumpkinpatch #gardenlove #pumpkins #gardening
I’m ready for an all American summer! ❤️🇺 I’m ready for an all American summer! ❤️🇺🇸❤️ Here are the mandatory events:

🇺🇸Host a backyard BBQ 
🇺🇸Attend a Fireworks show
🇺🇸Red, white & blue everything
🇺🇸Hit the Great Outdoors
🇺🇸Have a Summer Soundtrack
🇺🇸 Enjoy Classic American Treats
🇺🇸 Do Iconic American Activities - think Baseball games, Drive-in movies, County or state fairs!

What’s on your list? ☀️🍉🌻🇺🇸

#americanna #america #vintagesummer #charcuterie
I don’t think I’ve met a vintage tin that I di I don’t think I’ve met a vintage tin that I didn’t love. 🙌🏻 They are perfect for storage, stacking or the most beautiful blooms. The colors on this set scream SUMMER! They are both available now in my Etsy shop. 💙❤️💛

Hope you are all having a wonderful Memorial Day weekend! 

#vintagetin #vintagetins #florals #memorialweekend
Done and Done! You don’t have to tell me twice. Done and Done! You don’t have to tell me twice.  I have never felt bad for buying more vintage. 

💚 It reduces waste. Just think you are keeping those items out of landfills.

💚 One of a kind style, that is often made with high quality materials. Vintage lasts a lifetime. 

💚 Vintage can be cost effective (besides a few crazy thrift stores) and can sometimes have investment potential. I often believe this of my jadeite collection, many values have almost tripled. 

💚 Vintage pieces have history! They each tell a story and carry charm with them. 

Have I convinced you yet? Isn’t that jingle catchy! 

#jadeite #jadite #jadeitejade #buyvintage #supportsmallbusiness #vintagehome
Riding my bike in the summer growing up was the ul Riding my bike in the summer growing up was the ultimate freedom. We would ride to our friend’s houses, to the lake, and everywhere in between. 🚲 It’s the essence of summer fun! 

Each year I like to add a few decor pieces to vintage bikes to display around our farm. They bring me back to those childhood days of freedom. From flowers to patriotic decor, they each add a decorative flair to welcome summer. ❤️🚲❤️

#bike #bikedetailing #farmdecor #patriotic #patrioticdecor
A fresh take on tradition — honoring the stars a A fresh take on tradition — honoring the stars and stripes with a Caprese salad dressed in red, white, and blue. 🇺🇸✨ 

Do you have any big Memorial Day plans? 🇺🇸#SummerEntertaining #ElegantEats #CapreseArt #memorialdayweekend #memorialdayweekend🇺🇸
Is it ever not trending? ❤️🤍💙 I gathered Is it ever not trending? ❤️🤍💙 I gathered up a few totes of patriotic decor and I am ready to decorate. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 

Even though it’s still raining here, it’s looking very patriotic inside! ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Do you decorate for summer and the patriotic holidays? 🇺🇸🇺🇸

#patriotic #patrioticdecor #redwhiteandblue🔴⚪️🔵 #americathebeautiful
Follow on Instagram

GET UPDATES

Leave me your email to receive new entries, tips, and specially offers only for you! . Don´t miss any update!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

COPYRIGHT © 2019. Emma Theme by Lovely Confetti · DMCA.com Protection Status