Hallmark "Lionel Chessie Steam Special: Tender" Christmas Ornament, 2001
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Artifact Overview
Already known for greeting cards, Hallmark introduced a line of Christmas ornaments in 1973. The company's annual release of an increasing array of ornaments revolutionized Christmas decorating, appealing to customers' interest in marking memories and milestones as well as expressing one's personality and unique tastes.
Artifact Details
Artifact
Christmas tree ornament
Date Made
2001
Creators
Place of Creation
Creator Notes
Designed by Hallmark Cards, Inc. in Kansas City, Missouri. Made in China.
Collection Title
Location
at Henry Ford Museum in Miniature Moments: A Journey Through Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments
Object ID
2019.65.3587
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Material
Metal
Cardboard
Color
Multicolored
Inscriptions
on sides of ornament:
Chessie System
on bottom of ornament:
2001 / LIONEL(R) Licensed by / Lionel LLC / Hallmark Cards, Inc.
on front of packaging:
Hallmark / KEEPSAKE / ORNAMENT / Tender - LIONEL(R) Chessie Steam Special / DECORATION DES FETES
on back of packaging:
Complements the Chessie Steam Special Locomotive, / the 2001 Edition of the LIONEL(R) Train Collector's Series. / Chessie, the adorable sleeping kitten whose silhouette / appears on the C&O Railway emblem, was the star of / the company's calendars and advertising for more than / 40 years. But the story of Chessie is less clear. / According to one charming legend, an engineer on the / line once found a stray kitten asleep in his cab. The little / kitten, given the nickname of Chessie, slept the entire / trip and eventually became the railway's mascot. Another / story explains that in 1933, a company executive came / across an image of a kitten sleeping on a pillow. He / suggested using the phrase "Sleep Like a Kitten" to / promote the railroad's new cooling system, called "air- / conditioning." / Regardless of her true origin, one little gray kitten / played a memorable role in railway history. / For decorative use only. Not for young children. / Concue a des fins decoratives seulement. / Ne convient pas aux jeunes enfants. / Die-Cast Metal - Dated 2001
on right side of packaging:
LIONEL(R) Licensed by Lionel LLC. / Mfd. for Hallmark Cards, Inc., Kansas City, MO 64141 / Made in China QX6285
on top of packaging:
Hallmark
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Related Content
Set
A Selection of Hallmark Ornaments: Lionel Locomotives
- 21 Artifacts
Hallmark's ornaments -- with their original designs, increasing variety, and appeal to diverse customers -- have revolutionized Christmas decorating and led to the popularity of ornament collecting. Electric trains are another holiday tradition, both as decorations and as gifts. Hallmark celebrated Lionel train sets with a series of ornaments based on Lionel's versions of classic American locomotives.