Snowbabies

Those delightful Christmas figurines known as Snowbabies burst on the holiday collecting scene in 1986. They are manufactured by Department 56 which specializes in villages and figurines that celebrate holidays and everyday. Department 56 Snowbabies are designed by Kristi Jensen Pierro. And it is believed that the first “snow baby” was Marie Ahnighito Peary, daughter of American Arctic explorer, Admiral Robert Peary.

Department 56 was smart to create the line as a collectible, limiting manufacturing by “retiring” figures. This keeps the value and desirability up. There are plenty of copycats out there too. If you are interested in collecting it would be wise to bone up on some good guide books and only buy from reputable dealers.

But did you know that snow babies are not new? They were manufactured in Germany around the turn of the last century. Also, some were made in Japan in the 1930s. Really rare ones were made in pink and blue. Collectors call the early 20th century figures, “old babies”. If you have a collector on your Christmas shopping list this book, “Collecting Christmas Bisque Figures” by Mary Morrison, would be a very thoughtful gift.



Snowbabies are traditionally made of unglazed porcelain bisque. The original figures were children in their snow suits. Bits of crushed bisque were applied to the figures to give the appearance of being covered with snow. Over the years snow babies evolved to include elves and Santas and animals, most notably Snowbunnies. Department 56 Snowbabies even include a Disney line. It is believed there are thousands of variations of the little figurines just waiting to be discovered by collectors.