Santa Claus Head Mugs

2011-12-04T19:54:00.000-08:00

This set of 4 Santa Claus head mugs comes with a hanging tree with a little bell at the top. The mugs are 2.75" tall and are made in Japan for Manler Mercantile in Chicago. They match the mugs from my chocolate pot set. The red cold paint is starting to come off, and they are quite lightweight. I suspect these are from the 1970s.

Ross Santa Candle Lites #24-450

2011-12-04T19:27:00.000-08:00

Here is a set of 4 "Santa Candle Lites" from Ross Products. They have red candles in them and are the miniature size of porcelain that many companies carried, probably during the 1970s. They are marked "Japan". I lucked out and got the original box, and one of them is not burned yet!!

Schecter "Standard" Santa Claus Head Mug

2011-12-04T19:23:00.001-08:00

Here is a "Standard" Santa Claus head mug, made in Japan for Nathan Schecter & Sons. I assume they were a store in Philadelphia in the 1960s. It has the thinner handle, so perhaps it was even into the 1970s. I will have to keep my eyes open for the other expressions in the set. It measures 2 7/8" tall.

Enterprise Set of 4 Standard mugs #591/93

2011-12-04T19:01:00.001-08:00

This is a set of 4 "Standard" Santa Claus head mugs, in their original box. The import company is Enterprise, and these are marked with a cute maple leaf-shaped foil label. The product number is 591/93 and they measure 2 7/8" tall. Two are winking, so perhaps there is a closed-eye version I need to find. The base of these mugs have a peace sign incised.

Menschik Goldman "Pretty" Stacking Santa Claus Head Creamer & Sugar

2010-02-20T18:35:00.001-08:00

I know this is not a mug, but it is so similar to all the "pretty" mugs that I had to include it here. The sugar bowl is Santa's head, notice that the ears are quite pronounced!! This is from a company that I have not heard of before, Menschik Goldman. I had seen this sugar bowl without the creamer and was hoping I would find the set someday.

Morton Santa Claus Head Mug

2010-02-20T18:32:00.001-08:00

This 2.75" tall mug is very heavy. I have a slightly taller and lighter weight mug without the "USA" incised on the back of the mug down by the handle. This style mug is also found with a green rhinestone eye. There is a mini mug with a punch bowl handle that is also attributed to Morton.

Examples of Miscellaneous Greenware

2009-11-05T11:57:00.001-08:00

There are many different styles of "greenware" mugs out there. Often they are decorated by people, with varying degrees of success. Also, there are some ceramics painting shops that paint the same design and sell them, sometimes as souvenirs. Here are a variety of these greenware mugs so that people will be able to recognize them compared to the Made in Japan pieces.

This pitcher is probably modern, there is a note on the base that indicates it came from a flea market by Victoria Bridge. I have seen at least two of these recently, so it may be a new item meant to seem old.

Although this mug seems like a hand-made original piece, I have seen several of them for sale throughout my years of collecting. It is probably made by a ceramics decorating company here in the United States.

This mug is marked with a red ink stamp on the bisque base "Made in Occupied Japan". I have seen many of these mugs, always the same style. I have also seen this style mug with a red copyright MK stamp on the base. It is possible that this is a counterfeit, because this style of mug was not developed until quite a while after the occupied time in Japan.

This mug is a souvenir piece, it came with a creamer and I suppose was intended as a sugar. Many of the ceramics companies here in the United States decorated greenware pieces and sold them to stores and as souvenirs.

This mug may or may not be a greenware piece. There is what appears to be a company name incised into the base "Houdek" (?), perhaps they are a greenware mold company? The name of the artist is on the base "Andy". The handle is on the back of this mug.

This greenware mug is double-sided, with Mrs. Claus on the back. The style is quite similar to the Lefton/Enterprise reversible mugs. I have seen a lot of these greenware mugs, and this is a nice example of how people can sometimes bring an artistic flair to their pieces.

The previous two mugs coordinate with eachother, and are quite similar to the Riddell 1951 mug. The colors are only found in this combination on the Riddell mugs and the greenware that is similar to them.

Here is a greenware mug that is very similar to the Riddell 1951 mug, both in color and styling. This is a shorter example and is designed with a stacking indentation. Originally this was purchased with a little covered "cookie" jar, or sugar.

This greenware mug is very similar to the Riddell 1951 mug, both in coloring and styling. I have seen this style mug with different coloration, as well.

This extra large mug is definitely greenware, in fact this one was decorated by Grandma Birdie for her grandson Teddy!! I have to say that this style is the second most ugly style of greenware I have seen ...

Both of the above mugs were decorated and stamped by Johanna, Calif. They were most likely a ceramics painting store. I have seen multiple examples of each of these from Johanna, so they probably painted them and distributed them in the United States.

The two mugs above win my prize for the ugliest style of greenware mugs!! The bottom one is quite large, the above one is normal-sized. I think the artists did a great job painting these to look less ugly, but I have seen some really bad examples of this style out there. They are from a Holland mold.

I love this greenware style, with his toothy smile!! I suspect this is more modern, from the style and the type of glaze.

The three mugs above are probably from the same greenware company, one has an added handle and the other has an unattached handle.

I like this greenware style, sort of looks like someone hand-molded it from clay. I have not seen another like it, so perhaps they did!!

This mug is one of my favorites. The handle is on the back and the name Ynez is in red on the base. The beard almost looks as if she hand-tooled the texture. I have seen others like this, and if my memory serves, they had Ynez on the base, as well. Perhaps Ynez was a ceramics painting and distributing company?

This greenware mug is really heavy and has a strange look to it. The top is proportionally narrower than the base.

This mug is another favorite of mine, with his piggy nose!! It is also a heavy greenware mug.

These two mugs are different sizes, but they are very similar. The bottom larger one is marked "Goms of Calfornia", perhaps another ceramics painting and distributing company, or maybe Goms is a store?

I suspect that this punch bowl set is greenware, although I always see it with "sideways" looking eyes and with the hair painted gray. So, perhaps it is made by the same people for a company? There is a smaller greenware mug (pictured under the punch bowl picture) that is smaller but almost identical in styling to the punch bowl mug. Note the indentations on the left side.

Examples of Mallory Greenware Santa Claus Head Mugs and Related Items

2009-11-05T09:33:00.000-08:00

The Jamar Mallory Ceramics Studio created molds for greenware pieces in the 1950s. Some of these molds are still being used today. There were two main shapes created. One was what I call the "cute" mug. This style was available in punch bowl/cookie jar piece, a ladle, and mugs. Modern greenware companies still copy this "cute" style, as seen below.

This is the most common greenware punch bowl seen, and it comes with or without the lid. The punch bowl is marked, the mug is not, and the ladle is almost always seen with this bowl.

This is a matte-finished greenware mug that is quite similar to the Mallory "cute" mugs, but it has a little thumb-hold above the handle.

This is probably from Mallory, a good example of high-quality personal hand-painting. This mug also has "spaghetti" trimmed fur.

This mug is possibly Mallory, although it is shorter than the other examples. The brown eyes are unusual for these home-painted mugs.

This example of the Mallory mug show that ceramic companies often used the freenware molds and mass-produced their mugs. This is marked "DeForest of California".

The other common shape available as greenware was the "M" series mug, the greenware mold for the small mug was marked "M 17". Usually the handle was unattached, sometimes it was attached to the body of the mug. There are many other greenware and Made in Japan pieces that are similar to this style. It is not known which came first. You can also find pieces that coordinate with this style, such as salt & pepper shakers. But, since they weren't shaped like mugs I didn't include them in my collection.

This greenware mold is number "M 17" and the bisque mug is quite fragile until it is fired.

This heavy terracotta mug is an example of an extra large "M" style Santa mug, with an attached handle. It is unmarked, and seems more modern. It is 4.625" tall.

This large "M" mug has been altered by the artist to be a vampire. The mug is marked 1984, so these greenware styles were still being used in the 1980s.

This mug is 3.625" tall and is considered a medium sized "M" mug. It is unknown if this is from Mallory or another company.

This ashtray is a rare piece, I have not seen another. So, I don't know if it was from a mold or created by an artist like the vampire mug. The mug measures 4" tall.

This example of a large pitcher and mug is beautiful. The pitcher is 9.875" tall and the large mug is 4" tall. Someone named "Kitty" created this set.

This is an example of the small pitcher and small mug. The pitcher is 7" tall and the mug is 3.25" tall. This is the "M 17" sized mug from a mold like the one pictured above.

This decanter set is quite rare. I think I have seen only one other for sale. The decanter is 13.5" tall and the mini mug is 2.25" tall, with an attached handle. This mini mug had a greenware mold numbered "X-10", so it may not actually be part of the "M" line.

Examples of Soft Molded Santa Claus Head Mugs

2009-11-04T20:58:00.001-08:00

These are some examples of a softly molded Santa mug, the edges are soft, not sharp. This could be an indication that the mug is newer. Notice that the decoration is not as fine as the older mugs. These mugs measure between 2.125" and 3" tall and are quite common.

Santa Claus Head Mug - Japan #5094

2009-11-04T20:51:00.000-08:00

This mug is similar to the shrt-nosed medium mugs, but the shape is slightly different. He is 2.625" tall, has a JAPAN label, and is marked "5094". I will have to look for the other expressions to get a complete set.

Unknown Santa Claus Head Mug Oil Lamp

2009-11-04T20:46:00.000-08:00

This is an amazing find, an oil lamp in the shape of a Santa mug!! It is unmarked, and might be a greenware item. The total height of this lamp is 8.5".

Unknown Large Angry Santa Claus Head Mug

2009-11-04T20:33:00.001-08:00

This mug is 3.625" tall and is unmarked. The base is molded deep and there is some leftover green florist's clay inside the mug. Perhaps it was used as a floral planter? It is heavy and quite large. He does look rather angry, though, doesn't he?

Examples of Large "Standard" Santa Claus Head Mugs

2009-11-04T20:31:00.000-08:00

These three mugs are examples of a large "standard" Santa mug. Although they are hard to find in this size, I need the open-eyed expression to have a complete "set". They measure 3.375" tall and two are marked with a purple 69¢ and JAPAN, one of these is from a different company.

Examples of "Standard" Santa Claus Head Pitcher

2009-11-04T20:20:00.001-08:00

Here are three examples of a "standard" Santa pitcher. The set that includes 4 mugs is marked JAPAN. The other two show two different eyes, one winking and the other open. This pitcher measures about 5.75" tall. The mugs in this set are what I am calling a medium "standard" Santa mug.

Set of 6 Santa Claus Head Mugs - Japan #30I43

2009-11-04T19:51:00.000-08:00

This is an unusual number of mugs to be in a set, sometimes there are 2 but usually there are 4. The three expressions included in these mugs are winking, closed, and open-eyed. The mugs are from Japan and the product number is "30I43". These might be newer, although they are not as lightweight as other newer mugs.

Set of 4 Lightweight Santa Claus Head Mugs - Santa Land #1/2518

2009-11-04T19:45:00.000-08:00

This set of lightweight mugs is 2.875" tall and has pinkish paint on the face. They are probably newer. The Santa Land box has the number "1/2518".

Set of 4 Lightweight Santa Claus Head Mugs - Santa Land #8/1511

2009-11-04T19:43:00.000-08:00

These lightweight mugs are painted badly, which makes me think that they are newer. They are 2.75" tall and have the number "8/1511" on the Santa Land box.

Unknown Lightweight Santa Claus Head Mugs

2009-11-04T19:14:00.000-08:00

These mugs are lightweight, and are painted badly, which makes me think they are newer. They measuer 2.75" tall. I am missing the open-eyed mug.

Dashed Ermine Trimmed Santa Head Pitcher + 6 "Short-Nosed" Medium Santa Head Mugs

2009-11-04T18:46:00.000-08:00

This set seems like it doesn't go together, but I have seen it often with the dashed-ermine trimmed pitcher and the plain mugs. This is one of the first sets I bought when I started collecting these Santa mugs. The pitcher is 7.875" tall and the mugs are 2.75" tall. The mugs are similar to the other "short-nosed" medium Santa mugs, and the pitcher is similar to the striped dashed ermine pitcher set from Chase #C644.

Examples of "Short-Nosed" Medium Santa Claus Head Mugs

2009-11-04T18:37:00.000-08:00

I have decided to call this style of mug the "short-nosed" mug because it is similar to the "standard" mugs, but the nose is the same length as the moustaches from the side. This style is available in a small and a medium size. The medium is usually between 2.625" and 2.75" tall. These mugs are seen with a dashed-ermine trimmed pitcher, although they don't match I have seen them together multiple times.

"Short-Nosed" Small Santa Claus Head Mug - Kelvin's

2009-11-04T18:35:00.000-08:00

These 3 winking mugs are quite unusual, usually found in a medium size. They are the only ones I have seen that are 2.25" tall in this "short-nosed" style. They are similar to the "standard" mug, but their noses are even with their moustaches from the side.

Set of 4 Stacking "Standard" Santa Claus Head Mugs - Ross #24-160

2009-11-04T16:44:00.000-08:00

This set of 4 Santa mugs are unique because they stack. They measure 3.25" tall and are from Ross. They are in the "standard" style and show all 4 expressions(winking, open, sleepy, closed).

Examples of Stacking Santa Claus Head Mugs

2009-11-04T16:41:00.001-08:00

Here are some examples of some stacking Santa mugs. The Santa Land brand seems to have been shared between several more recent companies. These mugs are all lightweight and are probably more recent. Notice that they are similar to the "standard" mugs, but not exactly alike. There is one "standard" stacking Santa mug from Ross, but is is clearly a "standard" blank.

Set of 4 "Standard" Santa Claus Head Mugs - Japan #17689

2009-10-27T21:14:00.001-07:00

This set of 4 "standard" Santa mugs are 3" tall and have thin handles. The product number is #17689. The mugs seem recent, but the box product label seems old and has its product number blacked out. Did the distributors re-use and old box?

If you would like to see other standard mugs, type "standard" in the blog search box.

Set of 4 "Standard" Santa Claus Head Mugs - Ross #C597

2009-10-27T21:08:00.000-07:00

Here is a set of 4 "standard" Santa mugs from Ross, #C597. They are 2.875" tall and have a thin handle.

If you would like to see other standard mugs, type "standard" in the blog search box.

Set of 4 "Standard" Santa Claus Head Mugs - Japan #24-003

2009-10-27T20:55:00.000-07:00

Here is a set of 4 "standard" Santa mugs with thin handles. The mugs are 2.875" tall and the box has the number 24-003. This is a number that was used by Commodore, these might be from Commodore.

If you would like to see other standard mugs, type "standard" into the blog search box.

Set of 4 "Standard" Santa Claus Head Mugs - Nasco #R2582

2009-10-27T20:43:00.001-07:00

Here are two versions of the standard mugs from Nasco. They both have the product number R2582, but the label on the boxes are different. They measure 3" tall and have thin handles.

To see other "standard" mugs, type "standard" into the search box in this blog.

"Standard" Santa Claus Head Mug - Wales

2009-10-27T20:16:00.000-07:00

Here is a "standard" mug from Wales. It is 3" tall with a thin handle and it is quite lightweight. To see other examples of the "standard" mug, type "standard" in the blog search box.

"Standard" Santa Claus Head Mug - Japan

2009-10-27T19:59:00.001-07:00

Here is a "standard" Santa Claus head mug with blue eyes and gold trim. It measures 3" tall and has thin handle. The thin handle indicates that this is an newer mug. I call this style of mug "standard", because it is so ubiquitous. Standard mugs usually come with four expressions: open eyes, winking, sleepy eyes, closed eyes. This style of mug was distributed by many importing companies. If you are interested in seeing the other versions type "standard" in the blog's search box.

"Standard" Santa Claus Head Mugs - Miscellaneous Thin Handled Examples

2009-10-27T18:22:00.000-07:00

Here are some examples of the "standard" style Santa mugs with medium or thin handles. Many of these are marked JAPAN. They are usually 3" tall, which is slightly taller than the thick handled mugs.

I call this style of mug "standard", because it is so ubiquitous. Standard mugs usually come with four expressions: open eyes, winking, sleepy eyes, closed eyes. This style of mug was distributed by many importing companies. If you are interested in seeing the other versions type "standard" in the blog's search box.

"Standard" Santa Claus Head Mug - A Quality Product

2009-10-27T17:17:00.000-07:00

Here is an example of the "standard" Santa Claus head mug. The gray trim on the cap is unusual and it is also a souvenir mug for Santa's Village. It measures 3" tall and has the thicker handle. The thicker handle indicates that this is an older mug. I call this style of mug "standard", because it is so ubiquitous. Standard mugs usually come with four expressions: open eyes, winking, sleepy eyes, closed eyes. I am missing the closed eyes version and will keep my eyes open for it. This style of mug was distributed by many importing companies. If you are interested in seeing the other versions type "standard" in the blog's search box.

Examples of Souvenir Santa Claus Head Mugs

2009-10-27T17:13:00.001-07:00

Here are some examples of souvenir Santa mugs. Notice that there are two decals that are similar but read differently.

"Standard" Santa Claus Head Mugs - Miscellaneous Thick Handled Examples

2009-10-27T16:28:00.000-07:00

Here are some examples of the "standard" Santa Claus head mug with thicker handles. It usually measures 2.875" tall and the thicker handle indicates that this is an older mug. Sime of these mugs are marked Japan. If the mugs are from a known company or have some unique feature I have listed them separately.

I call this style of mug "standard", because it is so ubiquitous. Standard mugs usually come with four expressions: open eyes, winking, sleepy eyes, closed eyes. This style of mug was distributed by many importing companies. If you are interested in seeing the other versions type "standard" in the blog's search box.

Pair of "Standard" Santa Claus Head Mugs - Japan

2009-10-27T16:01:00.000-07:00

Here is a pair of "standard" Santa Claus head mugs that have numbers incised on the base. They are similar to the Ty-Nee standard mug. It measures 2.875" tall and has the thicker handle. The thicker handle indicates that this is an older mug. I call this style of mug "standard", because it is so ubiquitous. Standard mugs usually come with four expressions: open eyes, winking, sleepy eyes, closed eyes. I am missing the closed eyes version and will keep my eyes open for it. This style of mug was distributed by many importing companies. If you are interested in seeing the other versions type "standard" in the blog's search box.

"Standard" Santa Claus Head Mug - Ty-Nee

2009-10-27T15:54:00.001-07:00

Here is the Ty-nee version of the "standard" Santa Claus head mug. This mug is quite similar to two other mugs that have numbers incised in their base, this one has a number 1. It measures 2.75" tall and has the thicker handle. The thicker handle indicates that this is an older mug. I call this style of mug "standard", because it is so ubiquitous. Standard mugs usually come with four expressions: open eyes, winking, sleepy eyes, closed eyes. I am always looking for the other experssions. This style of mug was distributed by many importing companies. If you are interested in seeing the other versions type "standard" in the blog's search box.

"Standard" Santa Claus Head Mug - #402

2009-10-27T15:25:00.000-07:00

Here a "standard" Santa Claus head mug with the number "402" on the base. It measures 2.75" tall and has the thicker handle. The thicker handle indicates that this is an older mug. I call this style of mug "standard", because it is so ubiquitous. Standard mugs usually come with four expressions: open eyes, winking, sleepy eyes, closed eyes. I am always looking for the other three experssions. This style of mug was distributed by many importing companies. If you are interested in seeing the other versions type "standard" in the blog's search box.

"Standard" Santa Claus Head Mug - Japan #X19-5/1

2009-10-27T15:21:00.000-07:00

Here is a "standard" Santa Claus head mug that is marked "X19-5/1" from Japan. It measures 2.875" tall and has the thicker handle. The thicker handle indicates that this is an older mug. I call this style of mug "standard", because it is so ubiquitous. Standard mugs usually come with four expressions: open eyes, winking, sleepy eyes, closed eyes. I am looking for the other experssions. This style of mug was distributed by many importing companies. If you are interested in seeing the other versions type "standard" in the blog's search box.

Set of 4 "Standard" Santa Claus Head Mugs - Relco

2009-10-27T14:54:00.000-07:00

Here is Relco's version of the "standard" Santa Claus head mug. It measures 3" tall and has the thicker handle. The thicker handle indicates that this is an older mug. The cold paint is badly peeling on this set. I call this style of mug "standard", because it is so ubiquitous. Standard mugs usually come with four expressions: open eyes, winking, sleepy eyes, closed eyes. But this set has only the open-eyed mugs, usually a sign of a more recent set. This style of mug was distributed by many importing companies. If you are interested in seeing the other versions type "standard" in the blog's search box.

"Standard" Santa Claus Head Mug - Wales

2009-10-27T14:40:00.000-07:00

Here is the Wales version of the "standard" Santa Claus head mug. It measures 2.875" tall and has the thicker handle. The thicker handle indicates that this is an older mug. I call this style of mug "standard", because it is so ubiquitous. Standard mugs usually come with four expressions: open eyes, winking, sleepy eyes, closed eyes. I am missing the closed eyes version and will keep my eyes open for it. This style of mug was distributed by many importing companies. If you are interested in seeing the other versions type "standard" in the blog's search box.

Set of 4 "Standard" Santa Claus Head Mugs - Napco #JDX-411

2009-10-27T14:08:00.000-07:00

Here is Napco's version of the "standard" Santa Claus head mug. They measure 2.875" tall and have the thicker handle. The thicker handle indicates that these are older mugs. I call this style of mug "standard", because it is so ubiquitous. Standard mugs usually come with four expressions: open eyes, winking, sleepy eyes, closed eyes. This style of mug was distributed by many importing companies. If you are interested in seeing the other versions type "standard" in the blog's search box.

"Standard" Santa Claus Head Mug - Norcrest

2009-10-27T13:45:00.001-07:00

Here is Norcrest's version of the "standard" Santa Claus head mug. They measure 2.875" tall and have a medium thick handle. The thicker the handle the older the mug. The foil Norcrest label on these mugs is a bit "off" and the label could be counterfeit. I believe the box to be authentic, however. There are several other items that use this label, and most of them are items that are not usually identified as Norcrest. Perhaps this is another attempt to pass these mugs off as a Norcrest X-185 style mug.

I call this style of mug "standard", because it is so ubiquitous. Standard mugs usually come with four expressions: open eyes, winking, sleepy eyes, closed eyes. This style of mug was distributed by many importing companies. If you are interested in seeing the other versions type "standard" in the blog's search box.

Green-Rhinestone Winking Santa Claus Head Mug

2009-10-26T18:34:00.000-07:00

This unmarked green rhinestone winking Santa mug is 2.75" tall and is similar in style to the Holt-Howard green rhinestone style.

"Peek-a-Boo" Santa Claus Head Mug - Holt-Howard #6400

2009-10-26T17:50:00.001-07:00

This set of 4 "Peek-a-Boo" Santa mugs is from Holt-Howard. The mugs measure 2.5" tall and are marked 1967. These mugs also come with candles and as mini mugs (with or without candles). There is a pitcher, also. This style is also known as the "Cloud" style.

"Darling" Santa Claus Stacking Head Mug - Nanco

2009-10-26T12:21:00.000-07:00

This "Darling" stacking Santa mug is quite similar to the Holt-Howard mugs. It is 3" tall and is from Nanco.

"Darling" Winking Santa Claus Head Pitcher - Christopher Radko

2009-10-26T12:09:00.000-07:00

This "Darling" winking Santa pitcher is from Radko, in the style of Holt-Howard's "Darling" items. The pitcher measures 9.375" tall, which is a bit taller than the Holt-Howard pitcher. There were several items in this line, including some large mugs.

"Darling" Winking Santa Claus Head Miniature Mug - Japan

2009-10-26T10:45:00.000-07:00

This "Darling" winking Santa mini mug is very similar to the Holt-Howard "Darling" style. It measures 1.375" tall and has a round opening like their Muglites. This mug is unique due to the souvenir decal that is on the back of the mug. It is marked "JAPAN".

"Darling" Winking Santa Claus Miniature Head Mug - Holt-Howard 1960

2009-10-25T23:03:00.000-07:00

This Holt-Howard "Darling" miniature Santa mug is marked a bit differently from the similar mini mugs #6366. It is dated 1960 and has a gold & gold foil label.

Creamer-Like Santa Claus Head Mugs

2009-10-25T19:44:00.000-07:00

These mugs are 3.25" tall and have a little bit of a spout at the front of the lip, could they be creamers? They are unmarked, but are similar in shape to the FG-1 boxed set and the Rubens mugs.

Santa Claus Head Mug - #50/311

2009-10-25T19:39:00.000-07:00

This well-made mug is marked "50/311" in green ink. I suspect it is from one of the big named companies. It is 3.625" tall.

Impish Santa Claus Head Mug

2009-10-25T19:34:00.000-07:00

This unmarked heavy Santa mug is 3" tall and represents a mischievous version of Santa Claus.

Pair of Unknown Holly & Berries Santa Claus Head Mugs

2009-10-25T19:28:00.001-07:00

These two unmarked holly & berries trimmed Santa mugs are quite similar. The heavier winking mug measures 3.25" tall and the better-painted open-eyed mug measures 3.125" tall. The styling is similar to the Josef mugs.

Unknown Holly & Berries Santa Claus Head Mug

2009-10-25T19:26:00.001-07:00

This mug is 3.25" tall and appears to be porcelain, it may be newer.

Holly & Berries Trimmed Santa Claus Head Nut Cup - Japan

2009-10-25T19:21:00.000-07:00

This little cutie is probably a nut cup, but there is an indent where the handle should be, so I am including it here. It is marked JAPAN and is 1.5" tall.

Unknown "Sweet" Santa and Mrs. Claus Head Mugs

2009-10-25T18:39:00.000-07:00

This pair of mugs is so "sweet". They are unmarked, although I really would like to know who made them. They are about 3.75" tall.

Yellow-Buckled Santa Claus Mug - Japan

2009-10-25T18:35:00.000-07:00

I know this mug is not just the head, but I couldn't resist him. He might be newer, although he has a red and gold foil JAPAN sticker. He is 3.125" tall.

Pair of Unknown Red Button Nosed Santa Claus Head Mugs

2009-10-25T18:30:00.000-07:00

I wish I knew who did these cute unmarked mugs. They are higher quality and measure 3.375" tall. The common red button nose makes them part of a set. I am always on the lookout for additional expressions.

Unknown Santa Claus Head Stein

2009-10-25T18:24:00.001-07:00

This unmarked mug is like a stein in design, it measures 6" tall. I have seen it with a Japan sticker.

Examples of Pointy-Bearded Santa Claus Head Mugs

2009-10-25T18:12:00.001-07:00

Here are three examples of similar mugs with pointy beards. They measure around 4" tall and the last one is marked JAPAN. This one is most similar to the Sonsco and the Tilso pointy beard mugs.

Holly & Berries Santa Claus Head Mug - Japan

2009-10-25T17:56:00.000-07:00

This holly and berries trimmed Santa mug is 3" tall and has excellent paint. I suspect it may be newer, although it is marked JAPAN.

Purple-Faced Santa Claus Head Mug - Japan

2009-10-25T17:53:00.000-07:00

This 3.125" tall sleepy-eyed Santa mug is heavy and is marked JAPAN. Notice the purple-toned face.

UPDATE: I found three more, and they were just the expressions I needed!!

Santa Claus Head Mug with Forelock - Japan

2009-10-25T17:51:00.000-07:00

This Santa mug is 3.5" tall and may be a modern piece, although it has a paper Made in Japan label.

Set of 8 Santa Claus Head Mugs + Cocoa Pot - Japan

2009-10-25T17:17:00.000-07:00

This set may be newer, but there was a Made in Japan sticker on one of the mugs. I am calling this a cocoa set due to the shape of the pot. The mugs are 2.875" tall and the pot is 9" tall.

Santa Claus on a Chimney Decanter + 4 mini porcelain mugs

2009-10-25T17:10:00.000-07:00

This Santa Claus decanter has been seen with a sticker on the front of the chimney that reads "XMAS CHEERS". I don't know if this decanter has lost its sticker or if it is a different decanter. The mugs that came with this are made of porcelain and vary in size from 1.625" to 1.75". They are similar to some other porcelain mini mugs.

Set of 6 Rhinestone-Eyed Santa Head Mugs + Pitcher

2009-10-25T16:24:00.000-07:00

Here are two examples of sets of rhinestone-eyed mugs and pitcher. I have seen green and blue rhinestones. There is a JAPAN stamp on one of the green-eyed mugs. The mugs are 2.375" tall and the pitcher is 6.5" tall.

Set of 6 Winking Santa Claus Head Mugs + Pitcher - Japan N44385

2009-10-25T16:08:00.000-07:00

This cute set of winking Santa mugs and pitcher is from Japan and has a product number N 44385". The mugs are 2.5" tall and the pitcher is 8.125" tall.

Unknown Santa Claus Head Pitcher + 6 Mugs

2009-10-25T15:06:00.001-07:00

There are two sizes of pitcher for this style, and the eyes are blue. These mugs are quite similar to the mugs in the S5/1616A mug and tree boxed set, but the eyes in that set are not blue. The pitcher is either 7.375" or 8" tall and the mugs are 2.375" tall, slightly shorter than the mugs for the boxed tree set.

Set of 4 Santa Claus Head Mugs + Tree - Japan S5-1616A

2009-10-25T15:01:00.000-07:00

This set of 4 Santa mugs + hanging tree + box is a great find. I have two different sized pitchers with their mugs without their box. I have seen this set in a box from Liberty Bell. These mugs are 2.5" tall and this box has the product number "S5/1616A" from Japan. I have another set with a green tree and red pot in its box, but there is no product number. I just wish there had been a company label on the box.

Set of 4 Santa Claus Head Mugs - Japan S-800/M

2009-10-25T13:28:00.000-07:00

This set of 4 Santa mugs are 2.75" tall and are numbered "S-800/M". There is also a pitcher that coordinates with these mugs, it has yellow mittens. I have one pitcher marked Tilso, and another unmarked set of pitcher + 6 mugs. These are quite lightweight and I suspect they are more modern.

Numbered Santa Claus Miniature Head Mugs - Japan #I/2647

2009-10-25T12:52:00.000-07:00

This set of 4 mini mugs are all numbered "1" on the back of their caps. They are similar to the other "numbered" mini mugs.

"Standard" Miniature Santa Claus Head Mug with Candle - Japan

2009-10-25T12:44:00.000-07:00

This mug may be more modern, it appears to be made of porcelain and has a candle inside. I am calling this a "standard" mini mug, because it doesn't exactly match the "numbered" mini mugs' forehead, but it is shorter than the other "standard" mini mugs at 1.625" tall.

Numbered Santa Claus Miniature Head Mugs

2009-10-23T11:40:00.001-07:00

These mini Santa mugs measure 1.625" tall and I am always looking for the fourth expression!! They have incised numbers on the back, I am missing number 2. I have another of these numbered mugs with blue eyes.

Examples of "Standard" Miniature Santa Claus Head Mugs

2009-10-23T11:25:00.000-07:00

There are several variations of the "standard" mini mugs. They all are marked "JAPAN" and are 1.75" tall.

Set of 6 Standard Santa Claus Winking Miniature Head Mugs

2009-10-23T11:21:00.000-07:00

This set of mugs is missing 2, according to the product label on the box. The number has been defaced, but it could be either 6561 or 6801. These mini mugs are 1.75" tall and are in the "standard" styling. There are several other examples of this "standard" mini mug.

Unknown Heavy Santa Claus Head Mug and Planter

2009-10-23T10:37:00.001-07:00

There measure 3.25" tall and are two versions of this mug, one does not have a finger hole so I am calling it a planter. These are heavy and are made of gray clay, rather than the lightweight white that is typical for the Santa mugs. Perhaps these were used as floral arrangement holders?

UPDATE: I just bought this slightly larger version of this mug, measuring 3.75" tall. It is the one with the hole in the handle. Same bars on the base, no marks for determining manufacturer or distributer, though.

Set of 4 Pig-Nosed Santa Claus Head Mug - Japan #77-6075

2009-10-23T09:36:00.001-07:00

These mugs measure 2.625" and appear to coordinate with the Style House pitcher set and the unknown short pitcher.

Pig-Nosed Santa Claus Short Pitcher

2009-10-23T09:32:00.001-07:00

This pitcher measures only 4.875" tall. It appears to coordinate with the Style House pitcher set and the Japan #77-6075 set of mugs. Holt-Howard has a short pitcher like this and it is advertised as as part of an eggnog set. I don't know if this company did the same.

Pair of Stacking Dashed Erming Santa Head Mugs - Japan

2009-10-21T21:21:00.001-07:00

Here are two mugs that are probably part of a set of 4, I am on the lookout for the other two expressions. These mugs measure 3", are designed to stack on top of each other, and are marked "JAPAN".

Spiral Bearded Santa Claus Head Mug - Japan

2009-10-21T21:17:00.001-07:00

How cute is this guy?? He is from Japan and measures 2.625" tall. I like his spiral shaped beard and the holly & berries trim.

Unknown "Bubble" Bearded Santa Claus Head Mug

2009-10-21T21:12:00.001-07:00

This unmarked mug is 2.875" tall and the cold paint is flaking off badly. This could be a newer mug.

Unknown Punch Bowl Handled Santa Claus Head Mug

2009-10-21T21:08:00.001-07:00

This unmarked mug is 2.75" tall and has a punch bowl handle, unattached.

Unknown Rounded Beard Santa Claus Head Mug

2009-10-21T21:04:00.001-07:00

This 2.625" mug is heavy and may be modern.

Set of 4 XMAS Winking Santa Claus Head Mugs #N4116

2009-10-21T20:24:00.000-07:00

This is a great set, I have never seen another since I bought this one!! I have the original box, which is even greater, and it has a product number "N4116". I have no idea who imported this set, but it is similar to the NOEL sets.

Rounded Beard Winking Porcelain Santa Claus Head Mug - Japan

2009-10-21T20:18:00.000-07:00

This mug is 2.75" tall and is quite similar to a set of four rounded beard mug. This mug is made of porcelain, though.

Set of 4 Rounded Beard Santa Claus Head Mugs - Japan

2009-10-21T20:15:00.001-07:00

This set of mugs measures 2.75" tall and are incised "JAPAN". They are similar to another porcelain rounded beard mug from Japan.

Squared-Beard Santa Claud Head Mug - Japan

2009-10-21T20:11:00.000-07:00

These mugs measure 2.5" tall and are marked "JAPAN". I suspect there are the two other expressions out there somewhere. There is another unmarked mug like this with blue eyes, although those may have been painted later.

Winking Squared-Beard Santa Claus Head Mug

2009-10-21T20:01:00.001-07:00

This is a winking, square-bottomed Santa Claus head mug that is marked "JAPAN".

Note: I bought an open-eyed version of this style mug, but it broke in transit. Hopefully I can find more expressions some day.

Santa Claus Head Mug Tea Lights - Japan

2009-10-21T19:56:00.000-07:00

These Santa mug shaped tea lights measure 2.5" tall and have space in them for a votive-sized candle. They have a "MADE IN JAPAN" sticker.

Dashed Ermine Trimmed Santa Head Mugs

2009-10-21T18:42:00.000-07:00

This style of mug is quite common. This 2.875" tall example came in a box with the product number "X-10". The mugs are marked "X 10-4/1", although I have others marked "X 10-5/1" and "X 30-6/1".

Smokey Dashed Ermine Santa Claus Head Mug #X10-4

2009-10-21T18:38:00.000-07:00

This 2.875" tall mug is quite similar to the smokey technique of the Brinn's mugs. It is marked "X 10-4 JAPAN".

Dashed Ermine Trimmed Santa Head Pitcher

2009-10-21T18:10:00.000-07:00

This pitcher is 5.25" tall and can be found with various marks. I have found some marked "X47-2/1" and "X9-2/1". I even found one with a Norcrest label, but the foil label is a bit "off" and it was placed right over the place where the numbering would be. I suspect someone put a new label on a vintage pitcher.

Unknown Arrow Ermine Trimmed Santa Claus Head Mug #X-4 - Norcrest?

2009-10-21T18:01:00.000-07:00

This 3.5" tall Santa mug is probably from Norcrest. It is marked "X-4".

Holly & Berries Trimmed Mrs. Santa Claus Head Mug - Norcrest #X-2

2009-10-21T17:59:00.000-07:00

This Mrs. Santa mug measures 3.5" tall and is from Norcrest. She has holly and some berries in her hair and green stripes on her handle. She is marked "X-2".

Holly & Berries Trimmed Santa Claus Head Creamer - Norcrest

2009-10-21T17:44:00.000-07:00

I included this creamer because it is cute, but more importantly it is an example of what I believe to be a modern Norcrest piece. The price tag is labelled 10-85 (1985?). The Norcrest foil label is in a similar style as their vintage pieces, but the wording says "Crafted in Japan" rather than simply "Japan". This piece also reminds me of the Josef pieces, both in style and quality of decoration.

Arrow Ermine Holly & Berries Santa Claus Head Mug - Norcrest #X-90

2009-10-21T17:41:00.000-07:00

This 3.5" tall Norcrest Santa mug is almost identical to another, this one has holly & berries on his cap trim. This mug is marked "X-90".

Arrow Ermine Trimmed Santa Claus Head Mug - Norcrest #X-63

2009-10-21T17:36:00.000-07:00

This 3.5" tall Norcrest Santa mug is almost identical to another, the other has holly & berries on his cap trim. This mug is marked "X-63".

Winking Santa Claus Head Mug - Norcrest #X-64

2009-10-21T17:34:00.000-07:00

This winking Santa mug is 3.5" tall and is in great condition, with nice shiny and complete glaze. It is marked "X-64".

Gold-Buttoned Santa Claus Head Mugs + Pitcher - Norcrest #X-81

2009-10-21T17:30:00.000-07:00

Here is a set of Santa Claus pitcher and 6 mugs. The mugs are 2.375" tall and the pitcher is 7" tall. The mugs are marked "X-81".

Santa Claus Head Mug with Laugh Lines - Norcrest #C108

2009-10-21T17:22:00.001-07:00

This cute mug is 4" tall and has a unique feature -- laugh lines around his eyes. Norcrest has some really cute mugs, and this is definitely one of them. I just wish the cold paint was in better condition!! It is marked "C108".

Santa Claus Head Mug - Norcrest #X-10

2009-10-21T17:16:00.000-07:00

This Santa Claus head mug measures 3.5" tall and has the same product number as another mug. They have the same style eyes and arrow ermine, so they may have been part of a set.

Pipe-Smoking Santa Claus Head Mug - Norcrest #X-10

2009-10-21T17:13:00.001-07:00

This pipe smoking Santa Claus head mug measures 3.5" tall and has the same product number as another mug. They have the same style eyes and arrow ermine, so they may have been part of a set.