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December, 2018 The Antique Shoppe Page 3
VAILLANCOURT In 1985 Judi and Gary Each Santa, after casting, is air This “Father Christmas with
Continued from Page 1 quit their day jobs and dried, hand-painted using oil Girl” chalk ware Santa was
created in 1991 by Judi Vaillan-
Judi sold her first hand-painted formed Vaillancourt Folk paints, and then given several court and is valued at $800.
Art & Friends. They
coats of finish, producing a
chalk ware Santa Claus figurine at immediately converted high quality antique patina.
Marks’ Folk Art Show in Chicago. their Sutton, Mass., Novice collectors should
Judi took only one chalk ware home’s basement be aware that such
Santa to the show and it sold for into a production a finish causes proudly stamped, “Made in
$25, but she was commissioned to studio and variations in America.”
make 30 more chalk ware Santa warehouse and hired pieces, making Judi Vaillancourt
Clauses, and her folk art hobby 15 employees. every Vaillancourt helps keep the
suddenly became big business. In 2007, the Santa unique. company’s “Made
Vaillancourts Department in America” image
shortened their stores and alive by designing
company name to novelty shops and creating
Vaillancourt Folk throughout the more than 100
Art when they United States, chalk ware Santa
relocated their especially Clauses every
business and Christmas year, giving
changed the stores, collectors a wide
company’s focus commercially range to choose
to original chalk carry from. Along with
ware ornaments and figurines. Vaillancourt her Christmas
Vaillancourt Folk Art continues Folk Art. Santas, she creates
today as a family owned business, Lynn Haney whimsical Santas too, such as
creating and selling hand-painted and Byers’ Choice are two of the Nantucket Santa and Easter Santa.
chalk ware collectibles, including specialty Christmas stores that have An explanation of America’s love
their now famous line of Santa Claus partnered with Vaillancourt. affair with Vaillancourt chalk ware
ABOVE:Traditional chalk ware figurines. Judi casts her Much of Vaillancourt’s success Santas is found in the company’s
appearing, Vaillancourt Santa Clauses using a plaster-like is attributed to the fact that it is one “Gold Santa with Bells” figurine.
“Father Christmas” figurine, signed by of America’s last craft factories still
Judy; valued at $1,500. RIGHT: Vaillan- (chalk ware) substance and part of Standing over 10 inches tall, this
court’s 17th Starlight Santa with box. her personal 3,000+ collection of designing by hand. Also, Americans, figurine depicts Father Christmas
This Santa figurine, created in 2006, is antique confectionery (candy, ice since 9/11, have eagerly sought with a gold leaf coat and Nordic gray
valued at $450. cream, and chocolate) molds. crafts and other objects that are Continued on Page 5

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Specializing in: MONTHLY BARGAIN Antiques & Collectibles
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