FABULOUS VTG 1940S PAPER MACHE PULP, FAT SANTA XMAS CANDY CONTAINER, WHITE For Sale

I love vintage and antique candy containers. I have been an antiques dealer since 1985, and have a bit of knowledge. If you are interested, keep reading the further paragraphs below. If not, just read THIS paragraph! This fellow is remarkable. He is from 1940, and made from "blown" paper mache pulp. The pulp is the same as egg containers, and it is injected into a mold, then painted with an airbrush. He is in excellent condition, with all his paint UNTOUCHED. He is a rare white Santa. This same Santa was made in red, which was by far the most popular color. His eyes and mouth were painted with a brush, and give him such a startled look. He has a hole in the bottom, where the candy was. He has no stains. For some reason, these candy containers almost always have damp staining of some kind. His pulp has held up, with no chips or damage. He stands well, and looks so very good! I have listed his details above, as to height and so forth.

• In the 1900s through the 1920s, candy containers were, for the most part, very elaborate pieces that were hand made and hand painted, with all kinds of details. Some were so finely made that they looked like they were the real thing - little suitcases, figurals, and more. AND, they were quite pricey. By the 1930's, when the Great Depression hit, most people could no longer afford these wonderful pieces. Also, Germany was involved in the beginnings of WWII, and their interests were turned toward war and civil unrest. Many manufacturers that had never made candy containers, turned to making toys and novelties to stay in business.
• Candy containers were, at that time, made from cheap materials, like this one. He is made from paper mache pulp, which was blown into a mold. He is one of the earliest "fat" Santas. Before the 1940's, Santas were Victorian in style. Long and tall, and thin, with coats that usually came to their knees. The had hoods, not hats. From the 1940's on, the "fat" Santas took over, and became the defacto design for "Santa". Coca Cola came on the scene with their Santas, that took the design further, and then THAT became the new defacto standard.
• I am able to date this fellow based on his materials, design, and paint. There are a number of paper pulp candy containers with Santa that are earlier, in the 1930's, but they will have the thinner, Victorian styled Santas.
• In the Victorian era, the candy containers were made to last. They were collected by many people. By the 1930s and into the 40's, they were made to be used, and then discarded.
• Paper Mache Pulp for candy containers continued in use until the 1950s, and then fell out of use as plastic came into use.
• There are lots of reproduction bunny paper mache pulp candy
• Retouching candy containers is a BIG mistake. You can tell when one has been re-touched. Paper mache pulp absorbs paint like crazy. If the colors are too bright, and have crisp lines, it has been retouched. The paint was always applied with an airbrush, so the lines are soft.
• If there are NO dings at all, it has probably been retouched. Some of the containers were coated with wax, which gives them a nice look. This one wasn't.