Details From a Department 56 Dickens' Village

An old Department 56 stork I
used as Christmas table centerpiece, 2012.

I find few things to enjoy about putting away my Christmas village displays.  One advantage, however, is that I take my time to look at each building and accessory carefully, as if I am saying good-bye to it for another year.  It isn't sad for me to do this, because I like returning our house to its lean, and uncluttered feel when all Christmas goes into hibernation.  It is, rather, enlightening.

Dept. 56, North Pole Village,
"Marie's Doll Museum," #56408 (Left;) "Ginny's Cookie
Treats," 56732, (Middle;) and "The Egg Nog Pub," # 56737,
(Right;) "Gumdrop Street Lamp," #52966

Before Christmas, when I put up my Dickens' village, I can't enjoy the details of each piece, because  there is so much to do!  Not only do I have to deal with the village lights and cords, but we have to move out the boxes, decorate the tree, put my burgeoning North Pole collection on the family room shelves, put up the lights outside, decorate the table....  I just want it over and done with! Then, when the village is ready and the lights go on, I see only the gestalt of the display: the skaters skating; the windmill turning; the lights gleaming through paned windows.  It is magical.  But I still don't notice the individual people, and accessories, and buildings.

Dept. 56, Dickens' Village,
"Kingsford's Brew House," #58114

It is when I put my Department 56 away that I notice the details.  It is then that I notice the hints that the designers have included to clarify the historical function of a building, or define what type of role the people are playing, or suggest  the cultural or social history of the era.  Sometimes the details just make me smile. This is why I decided to pick out 10 of my favorite details from my Dickens Village pieces, photograph them, and share them with you.

Dept 56, Dickens' Village,
Detail from
"Manchester Square: Lydby Trunk and Satchel Shop,"

Detail #10: I can just smell the leather of these satchels from the Lydby Trunk and Satchel Shop in the Manchester Square collection.  The trunks are placed outside the shop, and a freak storm has partially covered them with snow.  However, the leather has been so well-treated, that they can withstand the moisture.  To leave them outside under these conditions is confident advertising!  Notice, also, that there is a door frame on the left of the sign, and the stuccoing has not been completed.  Maybe an old entrance has recently been bricked over.

Dept. 56., Dickens' Village,
Detail from
"Mangrove Orangery," #58440

Detail #9:  One day I was considering the "Mangrove Orangerie," speculating about what botanical wonders would have grown inside in the midst of winter.  When I looked down through the glass roof panes, I saw the orange trees inside.  Of course!  Oranges for a Victorian Christmas feast!

Dept. 56, Dickens' Village,
Detail from
"C.H. Watt Physician," #55691

Detail #8:  Do you remember James Herriot, the author of All Things Great and Small and All Things Bright and Beautiful and other books about his adventures as a veterinarian in rural England?  Remember how his Yorkshire office was on the first floor of the house, and he lived on the second?  Well, Dr. Watt in Dickens' Village also lives in the same building as his office, though his residence entrance is outside and up the steps.  In an emergency, it would be easy to find the good doctor!

Dept. 56, Dickens' Village,
Detail from
"Manchester Square: Custom House,"
#58301 

Detail #7: The symmetry of the Customs House is reminiscent of the 19th century Shaker architecture in rural parts of the United States.  The columns of the portico, all of the windows, the Christmas trees, the balustrades, the staircases, and even the garlands wrapped around the columns all have mirror image symmetry. It is so controlled, and balanced, and grand!  Though it does leave me reeling to think that the are no handrails on the inside of the steps, which would be very dangerous if there was ice!  A barrister's dream, that omission.

Dept. 56, Dickens' Village,
Detail from
"The Wool Shop," #59242

Detail #6: Turrets and towers, all coned and capped, are always romantic and beautiful.  I suppose this is why I knew immediately I wanted The Wool Shop in my collection.  Not only does its tower have a lovely leaded window and corbels, but of course a vine is winding its way up the side.  I love how the turret is slapped onto the side of an ordinary building--more likely, actually, an ordinary building is slapped on the side of an old turret!

Dept. 56, Dickens' Village,
"White Horse Bakery," # 59269

Detail #5:  I find the silhouette of the horse on the sign for the White Horse Bakery just wonderful!  If you click here, you can read my February, 2011 blog about the white horses of England, and when I saw my first one:  http://christmasvillagefun.blogspot.com/2011/02/white-horse-bakery-homage-to-english.html  This building is one of just a several Dickens' Village pieces that I have a profound attachment to because of my personal experiences in England.  No "best" list of mine will ever omit the White Horse Bakery.

Dept. 56, The Original Snow Village Accessory,
"The Village Stone Footbridge," and
General Village Accessory, "Stone Footbridge,"
#52646 

Detail #4:  Isn't this bridge beautiful?  You can see the individual stones laid just right, the handmade bricks lining the rails, the grout, and on either end, large spheres to mark the entrances.  To make it even more evocative and lovely is the red holly that twines itself over the rough stones.  Sprinkled with snow and garnished with evergreens, I would never set up my village without this footbridge.  It is listed as a general village accessory, as well as The Original Snow Village accessory.

Dept. 56, Christmas in the City,
"Wintergarten Cafe," #58948

Detail #3:  I have always included the Christmas in the City "Wintergarten Cafe" in my Dickens Village, and I know some people include it in their Alpine Villages also.  When I first saw it, I just loved the copper brewing cauldron, and that continues to attract my attention.  But I also love this detail on the side, which is a row of kegs of the different kinds of beer that the Cafe dispenses:  German Lager, Weiss Bier, Classic Pilsner, and Winter Ale, all written in lovely script.

Dept. 56, Dickens' Village
"Old Michaelchurch," #55620

Detail #2:  This is the door of Dickens' Village "Old Michaelchurch."  The door is old and wooden, heavily bracketed, and set into the rock first floor of old spired wattle and daub church.  Old Michaelchurch actually looks very much like the church in which my husband and I were married almost 40 years ago!  That's one reason I like it.  The other reason I like it is that the door is ever so invitingly open.

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Detail #1:  This actually isn't a detail.  But for me, this little accessory sums up the entire Christmas experience.  That my picture came out fuzzy added charm for me.  Christmas memories are so ephemeral and yet so strong.  There are memories of decorations, and presents, and food, and music, and celebration.  For me, though, they are mostly memories of being with those I love.