Glossary of Terms and Common Abbreviations
As with any hobby, collectors adopt a special language when referring to the style or type of collectible. Below is a list of some of the most common terms used in the Department 56 community for village collectibles.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | V | Y
A
800-LIT-TOWN
Department 56's toll-free customer service number.
A Christmas Carol
A Christmas story written in 1843 by Charles Dickens. A series introduced within the Dickens' Village in 1986.
Accessory
Any of the characters, animals, non-lit structures, etc. that are sold to complement and complete any one of the collections.
Department 56 introduces more General Village Accessories annually than any of the individual village pieces and they are discontinued rather than retired. General Village Accessories are designed to accompany any village. They include items such as animals, bridges and roads, fences and walls, lighting, mountains, trees, snow, and backdrops.
Alpine Village Series
The third of the Heritage Villages, it was introduced in 1986 and is characteristic of villages indigenous to the Alps.
American Architecture Series
Introduced in 1990, it is an ongoing series within the Original Snow Village.
Animated
Those pieces which include movement through the use of electrical and/or magnetic devices.
Annual
A collectible issued yearly to commemorate an anniversary, holiday or other special date or event.
Attachment
Any part of a building or accessory that has been molded separately and then added to the main body of the piece.
AV
Alpine Village
B
Bachman's
A Minneapolis-based floral supply company that was the parent company of Department 56 until it was sold in 1992.
Bachman's Hometown Series
Introduced in 1987, a series of three porcelain buildings manufactured by Department 56 for sale exclusively by Bachman's retails stores.
Bisque
A porcelain, generally white, that has no glaze or enamel applied to it.
Bottom Stamp
Specific information embossed on the bottom of the building. It contains the Department 56 logo, copyright information, and the name of the piece.
C
Case Mold
This is often referred to as the master mold. It is produced with a high density composite material that will not wear out as quickly as the more porous production molds.
Casting
The initial step in the production of a porcelain collectible. Liquid clay is poured into a production mold and, after being allowed to dry, removed as a semi-firm piece.
Celebrations
The third name for Department 56's quarterly magazine. It was originally titled Quarterly followed by Fifty-Six.
Ceramic
A form of clay finished by firing it at a high temperature.
Certificate of Authenticity
A document that attests to a piece's being genuine and establishes its place within a limited edition or production.
Charles Dickens Signature Series™
Any of the buildings in the Dickens' Village specifically designated as belonging to this series. These building are limited to year of production and carry the special bottom stamp depicting the Arms, Crest, and Badge (Lion) of the Charles Dickens Heritage Limited Foundation.
China
A high quality clay fired at a high temperature.
China
The third country to produce Department 56 villages.
Chip
The location on a piece where a small portion of porcelain or ceramic has been broken off.
CIC
Christmas In The City
Clay
Any of the earthen materials used to make ceramic items. It becomes hard when fired at high temperatures.
Closed-End Series
A limited edition series that is defined by the number of pieces that will be produced.
Club 56
This title is given to Department 56's upper echelon of dealers.
Cold Cast Porcelain (CCP)
A porcelain collectible that is produced by mixing a resin with porcelain dust and forcing it into a mold under high pressure where it is allowed to harden.
Collectors Club
A group of collectors who regularly gather to exchange ideas and information about a particular collectible.
Commemorative
An item specially made to mark an event, anniversary, or holiday.
Crack
A break or split in an item.
D
D56, Dept. 56
Department 56
David Copperfield
A story written by Charles Dickens. A series within the Dickens' Village, introduced in 1989 and retired in 1992.
Dickens, Charles
An English author born in 1812, he wrote many well know stories including A Christmas Carol and others referred to in the Dickens' Village. He died in 1870.
Dickens' Village Series®
Introduced in 1984, it is the first of the porcelain villages. It depicts England during the Victorian era.
Discontinued
The classification of an item, other than a building or accessory, that is no longer in production.
Disney Village Series™
Introduced in 1994, it was the seventh of the Heritage Villages and was fashioned after existing buildings in the Disney Theme Parks. Retired in 1996, it is the first village to be completely retired.
DV
Dickens' Village
E
Earthenware
A type of clay usually glazed and fired at relatively low temperatures.
Eden Prairie
The suburb of Minneapolis Minnesota where Department 56 is headquartered.
Edition
The total number of items produced with the same name.
Elf Land™
A sub-series within the North Pole Collection. The buildings are slightly smaller to accommodate the smaller elfin figures.
Emboss
To mold or stamp a design or information into a product.
Event Piece
A collectible produced to be sold only at a specific event of series of events.
F
Factory Flaw
Any defect, usually a chip, crack or firing line, that occurred while the item was being manufactured.
Fifty-Six
Former name of Celebrations, Department 56's publication featuring the villages and their other collectibles. Previously named Quarterly.
Fire
To heat at high temperatures and harden a ceramic or clay in a kiln.
Firing Crack
A crack in the ceramic or porcelain product that occurred during the firing of the piece.
Firing Line
A line in a ceramic or porcelain product that occurred during the firing of the piece.
Firing Period
The length of time during which a manufacturer produces a fired product.
G
Gathering
An organized event for Department 56 collectors. Gatherings feature guest speakers, seminars, swap & sell, show & sell, make & take sessions, and social events. See Calendar of Events for a list of this year's gatherings.
GCC
Initials for Gift Creations Concept a buying group to which dealers belong.
Gift Set
A packaged grouping of building(s), accessories, usually trees and snow, specially priced and sold for a limited time.
Glaze
A liquid material that is applied between firings to create a glossy shine.
Gold Key
A distinction given to the larger Department 56 dealers.
Greenbook
A reference and Secondary Market Guide to Department 56 Villages and Snowbabies. Now Village D-tails.
H
Hand Cutting
The cutting of windows and other openings before a piece is fired.
Heritage Village Collection®
A term that encompasses Department 56 porcelain villages, including Dickens', New England, Alpine, Christmas In The City, The Holy Land, North Pole, and Disney Parks.
Historical Landmark Series™
Introduced in 1997, a series that highlights famous landmarks.
History Lists
The common reference for the Department 56 brochures that list entire collections along with their issue and retirement dates and suggested retail price. See my Department 56 Village History Lists for a searchable catalog of Department 56 village collectibles.
Holy Land™ Collection
In 2001, this name was introduced as an umbrella for the Little Town Of Bethlehem™ Series and The Easter Story™ Series.
HV
Heritage Village
I
Issue
To introduce. Also refers to a particular item within a series.
Issue Price
The suggested retail price of an item when it is first introduced.
K
Knock-Off
A copy of an original, usually crude in quality.
L
Licensed Pieces
Buildings or accessories produced under a special agreement with another company that depict that company's products or use its logo and/or name.
Limited Edition
An item that is produced in a specific quantity or for a specific period of time.
Literary Classics® Collection
Introduced in 1998, a series that highlights famous literary works. Package includes a copy of the novel as well as related building and accessories.
Little Town of Bethlehem™ Series
The fifth of the Heritage Villages, it was introduced in 1987.
LTOB
Little Town of Bethlehem
M
Main Body
The basic structure of a piece not including attachments.
Make & Take
A craft session at a gathering where you learn how to make an accessory or other item that can be used in your displays.
Master Mold
This is often referred to as the case mold. It is produced with a high density composite material that will not wear out as quickly as the more porous production molds.
Meadowland Series
A ceramic springtime series that was introduced in 1979 and retired in 1980. It consisted of two buildings and two sets of accessories.
MIB
Mint in box.
Mistake
An error in spelling, factual information, and assembly of the piece. See Variations and Mistakes for some of the mistakes found on Department 56 villages and accessories.
Mid-year Introductions
Pieces introduced each year in May.
Mint Condition
Means that a piece is in its original, like new condition, free of any flaws with all documentation and box.
Mold
The form in which an item is created.
Mother Mold
This mold is taken from the clay mold and is made with superfine plaster to allow fine details to be impressed into it.
Ms. Lit-Town
Department 56's name for its customer service manager.
N
NALED
The National Association of Limited Edition Dealers a buying group to which dealers belong.
NCC
National Council of 56 Clubs. An Organization for Department 56 Collectors Clubs whose purpose is to promote, cultivate and facilitate the exchange of information between Member Clubs.
New England Village® Series
The second of the Heritage Villages, introduced in 1986. It depicts New England though it includes pieces representing the Hudson Valley and Pennsylvania.
NEV
New England Village
NIB
New in box.
Nicholas Nickleby
A story written by Charles Dickens. A series within the Dickens' Village, introduced in 1988 and retired in 1991.
North Pole Series™
The sixth of the Heritage Villages, it was introduced in 1990 and depicts the whimsical world of Santa Claus and his homeland.
North Pole Woods™ Collection
A sub-series within the North Pole Series. This group of buildings in trees was introduced in 2000 and retired in 2002.
NP
North Pole
O
Oliver Twist
A story written by Charles Dickens. A series within the Dickens' Village, introduced in 1991 and retired in 1993.
One Village Place
The name for Department 56's headquarters in Eden Prairie.
Open House
An event given by a dealer having special activities.
Original Snow Village® Collection, The
The first village marketed by Department 56. Depicting "Any Town USA," its buildings and accessories are ceramic. Introduced in 1976.
OSRP
Original Suggested Retail Price
Overvalued
A piece that is selling for more than its perceived value.
P
Paste
Porcelain in its raw form before shaping and firing.
Philippines
The second country to produce Department 56 villages.
Porcelain
A hard, white translucent ceramic made by firing pure clay.
Primary Market
The market in which items are sold for the first time.
Production Mold
A mold of porous plaster used to create the actual piece. The mold absorbs the moisture from the clay during the firing process. These molds are replaced after 30 or 40 castings.
Prototype
The original design, often the piece initially shown to dealers when they place orders.
Q
Quarterly
The original name for Celebrations, Department 56's magazine.
R
Retired
Buildings and accessories that are no longer being produced and will not be in the future.
Room Hop
An organized event at a gathering where collectors sell retired collectibles in their hotel rooms while other collectors roam from room to room looking for bargains or that hard-to-find piece.
Round Robin
Individuals at tables demonstrating how to make accessories or scenes for your displays at a gathering. Unlike most demonstrations, you are up close to where you can ask questions and see in detail what is going on.
S
SB
Seasons Bay
Seasons Bay® Series
Introduced in 1998, it is a unique village in that the pewter accessories are created to scale with the buildings. It retired in 2002.
Secondary Market
The market in which retired and discontinued items are bought, sold, or traded.
Secondary Market Dealer
A person or company that promotes or sells retired and discontinued pieces.
Secondary Market Value
The price a retired or discontinued item is selling for on the secondary market.
Show & Sell
The name given to the location where village display enhancement products are sold during a gathering.
Shrinkage
The approximate 15% reduction in the size of pieces during firing.
Signed
A piece that has been autographed by the artist.
Sisal
A strong fiber obtained from an agave plant.
Sleeve
The cardboard cover that slips over the Styrofoam packing box of a building or accessory.
Slip
Liquid clay that is poured into a mold or used to adhere two pieces together.
Starter Sets
Gift sets that are stand-alone vignettes intended to attract new collectors.
Swap & Sell
A location at a gathering where collectors rent tables in order to sell their retired collectibles to other collectors.
SV
Snow Village, Original Snow Village
T
Taiwan
The first country to produce Department 56 villages.
Topiary
Trees and bushes that are cut and trimmed into decorative shapes.
U
Undervalued
A piece that is selling for less than its perceived value.
V
Variation
A change in form, mold or color of a piece from the first issue to subsequent issues. See Variations and Mistakes for some of the variations found on Department 56 villages and accessories.
Vignette
A small scene or display.
Variation
Y
Year of Issue
The year in which a piece is announced for sale by Department 56.
Year of Production
An annual piece that is not limited by number, but which is available on the primary market only during the year it is produced.
