Department 56 Village Collectibles
Countdown to Christmas 2011
Department 56 offers nearly 3,000 different collectible, giftware and holiday decorating products. It began as the wholesale gift import division (department 56) of Bachman's, a premiere retail florist in Minneapolis. Now owned by Enesco, and headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Department 56 has become a leader in the giftware, collectibles, and holiday decorating industry. The lighted village series within The Original Snow Village and the Heritage Village Collection are the cornerstone of the Department 56 product line.
View the Department 56 Village Family Tree
The Original Snow Village
The Snow Village, introduced by Department 56 in 1976, has become one of the most successful collectibles available today. These ceramic buildings depict America through the years from the 1930's until now. In 1994 the first building featuring a licensed brand name was introduced: the Coca-Cola Bottling Plant. Since then there have been many buildings with familiar names such as McDonald's, Hershey's, Starbucks, Harley-Davidson, Lionel, Ford, and Krispy Kreme. While the accessories have never been in scale, the original contrast was even greater than today as downsizing took place in the late 1980's. Children are featured in the accessories to a much greater extent than any other village. The largest of the villages, annually introducing and retiring the most pieces, it is also the only village to be made of ceramic.
The Dickens' Village Series
In 1984 Department 56 introduced its first porcelain village the Dickens' Village. Named for the famous author Charles Dickens, it features buildings and accessories based on Victorian England and depicts the places and people one might visualize while reading one of his novels. Several of Dickens' stories have been the basis for the village's designs including: Nicholas Nickleby, David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, The Old Curiosity Shop, and especially A Christmas Carol. The Dickens' Village portrays all that is England including countryside pieces with thatched roofs, maritime pieces, beautiful churches, formidable castles and palaces, and some of the nation's most famous structures.
The New England Village Series
In 1986 Department 56 introduced a second porcelain village the New England Village. This village, which captures the spirit and character of New England, also includes Pennsylvania farms and the New York-based story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. While most villages concentrate on winter and the holidays, New England's appeal begins in Autumn as the leaves change to yellows, oranges, and reds. Town folk harvest apples, maple sugar, cranberries, and pumpkins. Pigs, cows, horses, ducks, and chickens populate the farmlands. Local bazaars sell hand-made quilts, knitted items, toys, jams, jellies, pies, and flapjacks. Several buildings in the New England Village have been designed without patches of snow, Christmas wreaths, and garland allowing them to be displayed throughout the year.
The Alpine Village Series
In 1986 Department 56 also introduced a third porcelain village the Alpine Village. It is the smallest of the Heritage Villages making it desirable among collectors. The buildings and accessories in this village characterize the picturesque villages of the European Alps surrounded by snow-capped peaks and deep-blue alpine lakes. Many of the names on the buildings in this village appear in German.
The Christmas In The City Series
The fourth porcelain village, Christmas In The City, was introduced in 1987. Representing New York City in the early 20th century, it can be a childhood remembrance of any large city; bringing back memories of lit town trees, decorated department store windows, and the hustle and bustle of busy sidewalks. The holiday season is hectic and exciting. The streets are filled with vendors, musicians, carolers, shoppers, and merchants. Horse-drawn carriages clip-clop through the park, while cars and taxis rush the boulevards.
Little Town Of Bethlehem Series
In 1987 Department 56 also introduced its fifth porcelain village, Little Town Of Bethlehem, depicting the Nativity story. From 1987 to 1999 it was the only village to be sold as a complete set. It included twelve pieces and no individual pieces were ever added or retired. In 1999 the set was retired, but within weeks new releases were announced that added to the series. Individual pieces can be purchased to complement the original set or to begin a new set. The new accessories are crafted in resin rather than porcelain allowing for more detail. In 2001 Little Town Of Bethlehem became a sub-series of The Holy Land Collection which was retired in 2006.
The North Pole Series
The sixth porcelain village, the North Pole, features the make believe world of Santa's Village. Introduced in 1990, it includes Santa's workshop, toy shops, candy makers, elves, and reindeer. In 1998 Elfland, a sub-community within the North Pole, was introduced. These buildings are slightly miniaturized to accommodate the smaller elfin figure, feature a unique architecture achieved with Byzantine onion-dome roofs, and include tiny gold bell attachments on each building for a melodious effect. In 2000 Department 56 began construction on a second housing subdivision, North Pole Woods. This whimsical treetop community, located in a dense forest at the edge of the North Pole, is the perfect place for Santa, Mrs. Claus and the reindeer to relax and unwind high above the everyday world. The North Pole Woods Collection was retired at the end of 2002.
Disney Parks Village Series
Introduced in 1994, Disney Parks was the seventh of the Heritage Villages, and was fashioned after existing buildings in the Disney Theme Parks. It seemed a collector's match made in heaven, combining Department 56 village collectibles with Disney collectibles. However, within two years a decision was make to end the relationship between the two companies. As a result, the entire Disney Parks Village was retired in 1996 making it the first complete village to be retired. There were only seven different buildings and four accessories produced.
Seasons Bay Series
Introduced in 1998, Season's Bay depicts a turn-of-the-century American resort village. It features the Shingle Style architecture popular at the time. In addition to the porcelain buildings, it also includes a variety of pewter accessory figurines dressed in period attire and structures such as pavilions, gatehouses, fountains, stone walls, and carriages. Although it is not part of the Heritage Village Collection, Seasons Bay has become very popular and is especially designed to be decorated for any season: spring, summer, fall, and winter. The Seasons Bay Series, including the lit buildings and accessories, was retired at the end of 2002.
Williamsburg Series
New! in 2010. The Williamsburg Series portrays the capital of the Virginia colony in the 1700s, a bustling center for political outspokenness and cultural development. After nearly two centuries as a British royal colony, Virginians led the American call for independence.
