Painted wooden Christmas Pyramid with figures made in Germany in the 1960s

The pyramid is six sided, with five tiers, made of three shades of varnished and unvarnished wood. At the top is a spire and a pinnacle. The bottom tier appears to have been added to the structure and is of plywood edged with light wood coving, all unvarnished. The rest of the pyramid is varnished. Within the structure is a three tiered turntable on a central spindle which extends to include the pinnacle at the top. The figures on the turntable are viewed through arches cut into each of the six sides of each tier. The turntable is activated by the heat rising from 9 candles, placed in holders at various places on the structure which hits 12 propellers or sails pegged into the base of the pinnacle.The candle holders are wood semi circles mounted on wooden posts; each holder has brass inner part and there are five glass wax catchers. The whole is decorated with plain and painted wooden figures, bells, houses and animals with multi-coloured cloth and plastic flowers. There are wooden houses of the traditional German style with red or blue roofs and stencilled features, multicoloured farm animals, babies in cradles and prams, birds, beefeters, soldiers, Nutcraker dolls, and an English red post box. With the exception of some metal animals and one or two plastic items, all the pieces are made of wood. The turntable tiers also have figures including the Nativity, the three kings, a windmill, soldiers and angels. The pyramid appears to be complete although a few of the pieces have missing bits. Most of the items appear to be the traditional toys sold at German Christmas markets, made in the Erzgebirge region of the DDr. However, some things maybe Taiwan or Hong King copies.

Given by Maria Saekel Jelkmann, England. [86/1908]

The structure of the pyramid is from the Erzgebirge region of Germany and the figures from various souces were added over the years by the donor.

Made in the 1960s and added to over a period of twenty years

This is a rotating pyramid from the Erzgebirge region of Germany. It is used as a Christmas decoration in German homes as a compact alternative to a Christmas tree. The pyramid consists of a number of platforms with a Nativity scene and other figures traditionally displayed at Christmas in this part of Germany. Candles on the outer edge provide the heat that makes the sails spin and the platforms revolve. Although the pyramid is German made, several of the small pieces and figures are from Taiwan and Hong Kong, where similar pyramids are manufactured for export.

MISC.683&:1 to 29-1988