Santa Claus on a Snowy Cottage Roof Limoges Box

Santa has just landed on the snowy roof of a little country cottage, sack ready and the chimney waiting below him. This hand-painted porcelain Limoges box was painted in Limoges, France, with a bright red suit set against white snow and warm cottage walls.

Twas the Night Before Christmas

The rooftop scene comes straight out of the old Christmas poem, the moment just before the jolly visitor slips inside. The cottage gives the scene a cozy village feel, and Santa's red coat makes it pop on a holiday shelf.

Village Under the Snow

This piece fits well with Christmas village houses, sleighs, reindeer and other Santa figures. Collectors who build a winter scene each year often use it as the centerpiece, since it combines both a house and Father Christmas in one design.

Unpacked Each December

• Hand-painted porcelain from Limoges, France
• A centerpiece for a Santa, Christmas village or winter collection
• Set it on a mantel, a holiday buffet or a tree skirt display

Bring it out the day after Thanksgiving and leave it up through New Year's Day. It suits a family who reads the Christmas poem aloud every year, a neighbor who decorates every inch of the house, or a hostess hosting the holiday dinner. Wrapped in tissue at the end of the season, it will be ready for many Decembers to come.