The One Vintage Santa Figurine You Should Never Skip If You See It At The Thrift

When the holiday season approaches, there are a ton of valuable vintage Christmas items to look for at thrift stores. And, there is one jolly fellow that immediately comes to mind — Santa Claus. By reviewing its overall appearance and maker's mark, there is one vintage Santa figurine you should never skip if you see it at the thrift store: the Rushton Santa Claus Coca-Cola doll.

The first known Coca-Cola Santa doll, created by Rushton Toy Company, appeared in 1957, when Coca-Cola gifted them to its bottlers and placed them as toppers in store displays. Founded by Mary Phillips Rushton, the roots of this toy company began because of World War I, when dolls were no longer coming in from Europe. And as an artist, she wanted to bring that small spark of joy back to children, thus letting her creative roots shine. Eventually, she was coined the 'Queen of the Toy Makers', gaining the attention of Coca-Cola, who then used her St. Nick figurine in advertisements. 

In the following decades, the big beverage corporation continued to use her jolly dolls, selling thousands until about the '80s when they went in a different direction. Unfortunately, the business is no longer around, but you can find many versions of animals and Santas at resale shops and estate sales. Once you know you have an authentic piece, you can incorporate it into your festive holiday decorations or into a larger Coca-Cola collection.

The best way to know if a Santa figurine is a Rushton is to review its overall appearance and the maker's mark. When you find one, first look at its vinyl, hand-painted face, donning a gleam in the eye, round rosy cheeks, and laugh wrinkles. Due to its material, age, and wear and tear, the retro toy may have scuff marks and other imperfections. 

Examine the body, Santa's made by Rushton will be wearing a red suit with attached white fringe, adorned with a black belt. On his head is a red cap with a small white pom-pom. Depending on the age, older versions have him in black books stitched with white thread, while renditions made a decade or two later had white boots. To know if you have the right Santa, check his hands to see if he is holding a Coke bottle.

Depending on the year your Santa was produced, there should be either a maker's mark or a tag. One type from the '50s shows a stamp on the bottom of the boot that says ' THE RUSHTON CO'. A version from the '60s has a sewn-in tag on the inside of Santa's red coat, with one side reading 'A Rushton Star Creation' and the other showing 'The Rushton Company. Atlanta, Ga.' If you're having issues differentiating your piece from the many reproductions, authenticate your latest thrifting find with an appraiser or a Coca-Cola expert.

While you can score a pretty penny off this piece, you don't want to miss out on the opportunity to style it in your home by adding it to your holiday decor or your existing Coca-Cola collection. And luckily for you, there are many different ways to style him. You can add him to an assorted collection of St. Nicks, position him on a festive holiday display or shelf, or even place him around your Christmas tree. Since it is an older find and made of fabric, keep it away from direct sunlight and from heat sources, such as windows, stoves, and fireplaces. If you have curious small hands and paws, let it stay in good condition by keeping it out of reach, such as on a high shelf or inside a display cabinet.

Many people love collecting vintage Coke products, and this is the perfect item to add to your collection, where you can show it off all year long. An easy way to get started is to set it next to other items on display. You can also strategically place your vintage Santa figurine to perfectly style your trendy curiosity cabinet that is already full of Coca-Cola products. If you have a large collection, be sure to keep this piece in the front during the holiday season. No matter where you show it off, just make sure to properly sanitize and clean it before adding it to your home.