Christmas Tree Fences

Lighted Fence and Church
A section of a 1920s-era wooden Christmas tree fence lighted with C6 lights in the gate and on each post.

Fences for the Christmas tree were made of a variety of materials. Some of the earliest were made of wood or cast iron, then later versions introduced sheet metal and plastic. The cast iron fences mimicked the elaborate detail of the Victorian fences surrounding people’s homes. Wood fences were constructed of twigs, feature tree branches, or the more common wood planks. One can also find fences that were pre-wired and contain sockets for lights on the fence posts.

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German Christmas tree “putz” fence circa 1920s.

Some fences came in sections allowing the consumer to create any length of fencing that they desired. Many fences had one section that contained a gate for “entrance” into the enclosure. Inside the fences people included small cardboard houses, composition animals, Erzgebirge pieces, dolls, toys, or any other items that they wished to use as decoration. Some built elaborate putz scenes or Christmas gardens, with the fence enclosing these wonderful creations.

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America-made wooden Christmas tree fence 1940s.
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A hard-to-find, feather tree-style putz fence.