8 Vintage Hanukkah Decorations & Collectibles That Are Back in Style

Each November, the very same Hanukkah decorations that have been collecting dust all year begin vanishing from estate sales and thrift shops.

But not everything that is old should be bought. Some objects are worth just a few dollars, while others are fetching as much as $200 and even more. It all depends on your knowledge.

The following is a list of vintage and antique Hanukkah decorations that collectors are currently after and what they are really worth.

8 Vintage Hanukkah Collectibles That Are Trending Today

Vintage menorahs are the largest segment of Hanukkah collectors’ items, and values can be extremely varied depending on the material, age, and country of origin.

Brass menorahs made in Israel during the 1950s-1970s are among the most common pieces, but older silver or ceramic models are far more valuable.

Most collectible types:

• Vintage brass menorahs made in Israel with Lion of Judah or Star of David motifs, stamped “Made in Israel” ($30 to $300)
• Antique silver menorahs from Poland, Germany, or Russia with hallmarks ($200 to $5,000+)
• Vintage ceramic menorahs with hand-painted designs from the 1940s to 1960s ($40 to $150)
• Vintage lucite menorahs in clear or colored acrylic from the 1960s to 1980s ($30 to $125)
• Vintage electric menorahs with original bulbs, especially 1950s brass or tin models ($20 to $100)
• Vintage musical menorahs with working wind-up mechanisms ($40 to $200)

Most old dreidels made out of wood are priced at less than $15 today. Those that are valuable include antique handmade dreidels made prior to the 1950s, particularly those made of sterling silver or brass.

Old dreidels engraved with the Hebrew alphabet in a different font and with genuine signs of wear are very pricey.

Hanukkah greeting cards from the early 1900s, particularly those printed in Germany and embossed with pictures of menorahs, represent an interesting albeit relatively small collecting field within paper ephemera.

Hanukkah cards from the 1950s to 1970s are more common and affordable, but postmarked cards from before 1920 fetch the highest prices.

Hanging Star of David decorations made of blown glass, sterling silver, and brass from the 1950s to 1980s are gaining popularity today. Glass items painted by hand and metal items from Israel sell best.

Just remember to seek out genuine hooks because replacement hooks reduce the item’s worth.

Hanukkah garlands made out of fabric, felt, and foil in the 1970s to 1990s have been rediscovered as an interesting decoration idea. Those with felt garlands shaped like dreidels, with the Hebrew writing on them and pom-pom decorations, are very popular.

Rolls of Hanukkah gift wrap from the 1960s to the 1980s are an underappreciated yet ever-increasing area of collecting.

The reason is that most people just tossed them away, making them collectible by default. Rolls that have never been opened with vibrant blue/gold coloring are worth the most.

Children’s Hanukkah story books printed from the 1940s to the 1970s have a hidden collectibility value. This type of collectible’s value is determined more by condition than age.

Original dust jackets and illustrated book covers, particularly those illustrated by famous Judaica illustrators, maintain their monetary value.

Vintage prints from Hanukkah, needlepoint wall hangings, and hand-painted plaques that are from the mid-century era are common and are considered both decorative items as well as collectibles.

Those that have their original frames will always fetch higher prices. Items that follow the Israeli folk art tradition are especially popular among collectors.

What Collectors Should Know

The ideal time to buy vintage Hanukkah decorations is during the off-season, from January through September, when the prices are lower, and there is minimal competition.

But also remember that come October, prices start rising and the best items are gone.

Begin by choosing the areas in which you have an interest. If you are fond of vintage brass, then your collection will center around vintage menorahs. If paper collectibles are your passion, then vintage Hanukkah postcards are relatively inexpensive.

The beauty of old Hanukkah collectibles, regardless of whether you are collecting them or incorporating them into your personal festivities, is their history.

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