Deck the Halls!

This is the other tabletop tree that graces the tea room during the holiday season. The decorations for this tree change each year, but what is special about this tree is the stand that holds it. It is a family heirloom, originally belonging to my grandmother. It is a revolving music box tree stand from Germany. The cast iron tree holder is designed to resemble a pine cone. The ornate base is nickel with a wooden floor plate. The large key is what you use to wind-up the stand. There are two switches on the base, one will simply make the tree rotate, the other will turn on the music as the tree revolves. According to my mother, it originally played two songs, but as long as I can remember, it only plays one. It is a beautiful music box, and such fun to show the guests that are here for tea. While growing up, we would use this to hold a live tree which we would decorate for the second floor of our home. Those days are now beautiful memories, but it is always such fun to bring this special heirloom out of the attic for the holiday season.