On the left side of the mantel one of my favorites AND probably the rarest house I own is what I call the Christmas Tree house. I have speculated that it may have been a promotion for some sort of Seasonal Childrens movie but haven't found it yet. (We think it is likely experimental). Beginning with the green and red candy box house (the base was a gift from Ted and I found the top on eBay) begins the tour of my favorite series of houses by a maker. I call it the square cardboard post maker. These are ALL characterized by have a folded square cardboard post with a square cardboard cap. In addition they all seem to have a "floor" under them. You find out by sticking an Exacto blade under the bottom edge of the wall at the light hole and if you see the knife in the hole this is not this house but NONE of these showed the knife blade as it is under the "Floor". All seem to have a flat bottom to the base glued on the bottom that projects around the edge AS ALL OTHER COMPANY'S ELECTED TO COVER THE BASE WITH PAPER AND FOLD IT NEATLY UP EXTENDING PART WAY UP THE SIDE OF THE BOX BASE. These are consistent with this company but some things that are often present are gloss tops, Almost exclusive use of a fine glass glitter known as Diamond Dust. And frequently using a grass tube type tree. Though not always. A very different maker
The middle of the mantel are some favorites including the "hotel" It has the diamond dust finish and the marquee over the entrance as well as the orange roof on the cantina are gloss top or lacquie. Besides the projecting bottom of the base we see the tube tree as well as the ubiquitous square cardboard post. One of the most interesting features on this hotel is the "Drooling" of plaster like paint to give the appearance of snow. Interesting and used on several pieces besides this one. Notice the "black sand" finish on the base - it is a very fine sand and it took me a long time to figure out what it was.
#3 photo has what I named the Pineville manor house (must have been a fit of idiocy) It follows all the things above ONLY has no lacquie or gloss top finish but though the base looks gray in the photo it is actually a light tan colored fine sand. The final clue as to what was being done. It is on the left side of this photo. The next two houses are also of the same type. The black and red and salmon house is sitting on a typical box base but with the raffia style fence. And lastly a pagoda house which is an innovative series and this time instead of the tube type trees it is a regular sisal BB tree with a piece of luffa for a shrub. The crumpled dampened paper base to resemble boulders is unique to the Pagoda series. As Pete keeps telling me COOL Beans (as what, opposed to Hot beans?
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