1912 Memories of Santa Collection Uncle Sam Santa by Don Warning

This Santa Claus ornament or figurine was issued as part of the Memories of Santa Collection created by the late Don Warning. The collection was inspired by the evolving depiction of Santa through the years, beginning with the etchings that accompanied Clement Moore's 1840 classic, A Visit From Saint Nicholas. The pieces were five inches tall, made of a form of earthenware, and hand painted. Warning issued 139 different Santas (including variations) between 1983 to 2002. They had a gold string on top for hanging, but buyers often cut it off and displayed the Santa on a shelf.

This is the 1912 Uncle Sam Santa, influenced by the 1863 Thomas Nast stars and stripes Santa created during the Civil War together with a series of Uncle Sam post cards created in 1912 on which this piece was based. It was introduced in 1986 and retired in 1991 and is now one of the harder to find Santas in the collection. It does not have the string on top or the box, has slight evidence of wear, but it is in very good condition, with no cracks, chips, or other damage, and is nicely hand painted.