Ellen Clapsaddle Christmas Cards

Rod,

If you're talking about the side ways Santa, I wouldn't say middle eastern, but maybe slavic more than American.

Donna

Ah right. OK yes, I can see that.
Thanks! :)

Ellen Clapsaddle had a counterpart in Sweden, an artist, illustrator, and postcard designer named Jenny Nystrom, 1854-1946. I'll post some of her 1900s cards later.

Here are Christmas postcards designed by Jenny Nystrom, showing the Christmas gnomes (and their pet pigs, along with their favorite treat, apples).

In Swedish folklore, the gnomes, collectively known as tomte, protected the home and farm animals. This group also shows two charming children, and a gnome delivering Christmas gifts from a sleigh pulled by a St. Bernard. Other versions replace the dog with a pig, as you might have guessed.

Real heavy embossment and some sharp looking artistry