The Albert Schoenhut Company made very few special Christmas displays. They were a special order item from the Schoenhut factory. The set included a Santa with a very special head, sleigh, reindeer and rigging.

Some of the known sets are:

1. Rosalie Whyel Museum of Doll Art in Belleview, WA
2. Strong Museum in New York
3. Sheboygan County Museum in Sheboygan, WI
4. Privately owned (recently offered but not sold at auction)
5. Privately owned - shown below.

This privately owned display is in fine but not completely original condition. As you can see the doll has the typical spring ball joints of the standard 16" doll with the wonderful special Santa head. It is obvious that the beard and Santa suit trim has been replaced (or enhanced) at some point in time. The harness and rigging also has been replaced but the bells on the harness may be original.

The owner described the set as:

"As far as condition, the reindeer are in reasonably good condition, with a few minor chips on the antlers. Santa has some damage to his right cheek and right hand. His beard is partially gone and his costume is slightly faded with tiny "moth" holes on it. Otherwise the entire piece is in good condition."

Rosalie's Schoenhut Santa photo thanks to Rosalie Whyel Museum of Doll Art

photo thanks to Private Collection

Carol Corson states that the early Santa doll's heads were individually carved and have carved, and painted eyebrows. These hand carved heads also had very round noses. Later Santas were made by modifying the faces of stock Schoenhut dolls and they had glued-on, thick, white eyebrows.