“Angels we have heard on high,
Sweetly singing o’er the plains. . .”
Traditional carol
It’s Christmastime once again, and the heavenly host is out in full force. Ceramic angel carolers line the mantelpiece. Their cohorts hover protectively over cherished Nativity sets. And, at the very top of the tree, a gauzily-gowned angelic guardian twinkles merrily away. For angels, the holiday season is the equivalent of TV programming during sweeps week.
But just for a moment, stop and think about it. Those downy white wings and burnished halos are actually with us all year ‘round. There are guardian angels. Birthday angels. Angels in the outfield. Angels in your pocket. Angels on your shoulder. There are angels of every shape, size, and wing span. And, for collectors of angel figurines, that’s heaven-sent news.
Some collect angels for inspirational reasons, or as special keepsakes. Others enjoy the seemingly infinite number of ways a single theme can be interpreted. But whether your taste runs to dime-store imports, figurals by a specific designer, or high-end depictions, one thing’s for sure: year in and year out, these heavenly messengers provide 365 days of angelic delight.
Angels. They’re not just for Christmas anymore.
Whence Comes This Rush Of Wings?
Now, those who can actually lay claim to having seen an angel live and in person are few and far between, (and the word “Saint” usually precedes their names). But over the centuries, theologians and layfolk alike have continued to tussle with the concept of unseen heavenly beings. Who are they? What are they? How many are there? What do they do? What do they look like? The deductions, right or wrong, (and who on earth really knows for sure?), have resulted in a litany of popular angelic lore:
Who Are They? The Greek word “angelos” (“messenger”) is the basis for our modern term “angels”. Since a primary Scriptural function for angels is to serve as heavenly messengers, the title is an apt one.
What Are They? Angels are commonly accepted by believers as immortal spirits. Depending on your religious point of view, they were either brought into being by God on one of the Days of Creation, or created eons before.
How Many Are There? One monk of the Middle Ages answered this query with a witty “enough”. Others have given the matter more thought, (although with equally unverifiable results). Albert the Great, for instance, did some arcane calculations, and came up with an angelic total of “four billion”. Since Biblical scholars often toss around the term “myriads” when it comes to counting angels, Albert was probably in the ballpark. (But then, so was that monk.)
As for the answer to that strangest of age-old questions, “How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?”, Saint Thomas Aquinas postulated that “only one angel can occupy one place at one time”. This would seem to indicate just one dancing angel per pinhead. However, since no one knows the size of an angel...or how many “places” exist on a pin head...the solution to the riddle remains just as elusive (and headache-inducing) as ever.
What Do They Do? In addition to their roles as messengers (“The angel of the Lord appeared. . .”; “The angel of the Lord said. . .”), angels pretty much take on whatever duties are assigned them by their heavenly Boss. Those tasks can range from leading the Israelites through the desert, to saving Daniel from the lion’s den, to rescuing Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fiery furnace.
According to widespread religious belief, angels are also kept busy watching over the rest of us, with each individual assigned a guardian angel. (Some folks are on a first-name basis with theirs. Saint Gemma Galgani, for instance, said her guardian angel paid daily visits, and stayed for lengthy chats.)
For most religions, however, the primary function of angels is to give praise to their Creator. (In other words, that “multitude of the heavenly host” doesn’t just report for duty on Christmas Eve.)
What Do They Look Like? Unless you’re St. Gemma, or one of her visionary cohorts, the “look” of an angel is fluid, limited only by the boundaries of imagination. Angels presumably made their speedy journeys from the skies, so early artists depicted them with wings. Halos graced the heads of both angels and saints, an artistic shorthand for holiness. And those full-length, flowing angelic robes favored by Renaissance artists were really just ethereal adaptations of the garments draping their more down-to-earth religious subjects. (There are, of course, always exceptions: the defending Archangel Michael is often depicted in Romanesque military garb; cherubim (aka “cherubs”) are invariably rendered as Cupid-like beribboned babies.)
Wings. Halos. Flowing robes. The basics of angelic illustration have, over the years, remained relatively constant. But once those basics have been satisfied, when it comes to depicting angels, the sky’s the limit. And who, (other than Saint Gemma), is going to argue?
Earth Angels
Today’s most popular angel figurines date from the mid-twentieth century, and there’s a reason for that. They remind us of the childhood we had, (or wish we’d had). They’re friendly...soothing...comfy. When we go to the movies, and see edgy angels like off-the-wall John Travolta in Michael, or brooding Nicholas Cage in City of Angels, we ask, grumpily, “what have they got to be so unhappy about? After all, they’re angels.”
Mid-century angel figurines, on the other hand, couldn’t be happier. Whether glass or ceramic, whether willowy seraphic or cherubically impish, winsome smiles and gentle poses are the norm. The designers of these figurines knew what would sell...and what sold were angels pleasurable enough to look at on a daily basis.
Nearly every domestic giftware firm from the 1940s well into the 1960s included at least one angel figurine in its inventory. Among those offering interesting variations:
Ceramic Arts Studio, Madison. CAS was among the most prolific angel-providers. Principal designer Betty Harrington’s angels are notable not only for the high quality of execution, (exquisitely rendered facial features are a Ceramic Arts trademark), but also for their interpretive variety. There are “standard” angels, such as the “Praise & Blessing” pair. There are whimsical angels, such as the “Angel Trio”: one youthful angel pores over a choir book, another kneels in prayer, a third reaches to the heavens clasping a gold star. There are even such unusual adaptations as the “Angels in the Clouds” candleholders. The console set’s three seated cherubs, resting on ceramic clouds, depict the precepts “See No Evil,” “Hear No Evil,” and “Speak No Evil”.
A stickler for accuracy, Harrington would run her angel prototypes, (as well as those for other religious-themed ceramics), past the nuns whose convent was near the Studio. If a design met with their approval, it was a “go” for production.
Betty Lou Nichols, California. Do angels have eyelashes? Betty Lou Nichols’ do. So do practically all of the other figurines turned out by this designer. Although primarily known for popularizing “lady head” vases, Nichols also created an extensive line of holiday figurals, including, naturally enough, angels. Too enchanting for Christmas-only display, their hand-applied, three-dimensional black lashes make Betty Lou angels instantly recognizable. Well, that and the “Betty Lou lips”. Pink, and always hand-painted by Betty, those lips pucker up in an especially-appropriate-for-angels Cupid's-bow.
Howard Pierce, California. Angels in the abstract? Ceramist Howard Pierce specialized in distilling things down to their essence, and his angel figurines were no exception. There’s nothing extraneous here. Often faceless, or with rudimentary, almost primitive features, Pierce angels are identifiable primarily by shape. We see the wings, and the folded hands; simple deduction fills in the blanks. These are not so much “realistic” angels, but rather the idea of angels. The concept is equally valid, and equally satisfying.
Higgins Glass Studio, Chicago. Known primarily for fused glass decorative housewares, free-form sculptures, and 1950’s-modern mobiles, angels are among the relatively few figural glass pieces released by the Higgins Studio. No two Higgins angels are exactly alike. Some of these fanciful conglomerations of geometric shapes are fashioned of plain glass in bright primary colors; other utilize patterned glass remnants. There are Higgins angels with gold accents, Higgins angels with “chip” glass dotting the wings, and Higgins angels with embedded brass feet and halos. The childlike playfulness of Higgins angels, (pretty much like that of angels themselves), radiates joy.
Angel Food
What’s a birthday without a “birthday angel” on the cake? In the realm of angelic collecting, these harbingers of happiness reign supreme. After World War II, ceramic birthday angels became a celebratory staple among baby-boomers, continuing their first-run fame throughout the 1960s. With most, the quality of execution was basic. The charm, however, was, (and remains), irresistible.
The majority of birthday angels were Japanese imports, either unmarked, or bearing labels from such importers as Napco and Lefton. The stylings were generally interchangeable, although some domestic firms, such as Josef Originals, turned out a higher-end product. Among the innovations of Josef designer Muriel Joseph George: birthday angels holding birthday-month flowers, each with a central “birthstone” rhinestone. Josef also introduced “horoscope” birthday angels, bearing gilded tablets with appropriate zodiacal signs.
First and foremost, a birthday angel figurine had to somehow tie in to the birthday month being celebrated. Usually, the angels toted items suited to the month (a Halloween mask or pumpkin for October; a valentine for February; a Christmas tree for December). The name of the month was often emblazoned across the figurine's base, so no one could possibly forget. Alternatively, the angel balanced oversize numerals, boldly announcing the age of the birthday boy or girl.
Whether used as a birthday-cake topper, or presented as a special keepsake, birthday angels were a gift to treasure. Inexpensive to begin with, they remain remarkably affordable today, in the $20 to $30 range. And, since there are only 12 months in a year, birthday angels represent that remarkable anomaly, a collection with a finite end! (Of course, once you’ve collected a complete set with birthstones, you may want to move on to a complete set with monthly décor items. But look on the bright side: if you've ever received an angel as a birthday gift, there are only 11 more to go!)
Touched By An Angel (or Two)
“In these days”, says an old Polish proverb, “you must go to heaven to find an angel.” Well perhaps. But luckily, angelic representations are much more accessible. Just around the corner, at the next garage sale, flea market, antique shop, show, or mall, mid-century angel figurines of all types can be found, ready and willing to provide a bit of celestial glory at amazingly low prices.
So, what’s keeping you? Heaven can’t wait!
Happy Holidays!
Donald-Brian Johnson is the co-author of numerous Schiffer books on mid-twentieth century design, including “Postwar Pop: Memorabilia of the Mid-20th Century”. Among his treasures: an October “birthday angel”. Please address inquiries to: donaldbrian@msn.com.