Many have an emotional attachment to the line, and tell us that when they take their Carolers® out during the holidays, it's like having an old friend come to visit.
The Byers’ Choice Caroler® figurines are widely collected throughout the United States and beyond. They are treasured not only as collectibles but for the way they represent a simpler time and way of life.
Since 1986, Byers' Choice Caroler Figurines have had a green felt ring and dated gold seal on the bottom of each base. Each figurine is also signed by a Byers' Choice artisan. If you question the authenticity of a Caroler, especially an older piece, please email a photo to [email protected].
How They're Made
Every Caroler is created in our Pennsylvania workshop by the loving hands of a team of skilled artisans. Although Joyce still designs each Caroler, it is the following steps which bring to life the figures that have found their way into people's hearts.
Plaster Each Caroler begins with a coat hanger. This is cut and bent to form a wire frame. Plaster is hand poured on a table, with the coat hanger placed in the plaster before it dries.
Heading Joyce sculpts every original head, from which plaster molds are poured. Clay is then pressed into the plaster molds. As the clay is removed from the mold, it gets slightly distorted. The artisan "cleans up" the head ensuring that each one is unique.
Wrapping After the plaster hardens, it is painted with a specific color of green. The body is then sculpted with tissue paper.
Feature Painting After the clay dries, the head receives a coat of flesh colored paint, and then the features are added. Each artisan uses an impressionistic technique to bring life to each face. No two are exactly alike!
Cutting Joyce designs every outfit worn by the Carolers. She has hundreds of different fabrics, ribbons, and laces available to be mixed in various combinations to create the Holiday Carolers. There will only be 100 sets of any design cut to send to our dressing department.
Dressing Dressers will take the body, head and clothes to combine the parts into a unique handcrafted Caroler. By changing the pose, or adjusting the draping of the clothes, a dresser adds life and personality to each Caroler.
Finishing Through the combination of loving care from each artisan, we now have a hundred unique, handcrafted Carolers that capture the warmth and spirit of Christmas. These figures will be divided among 2,000 retail stores, all of which will have entirely different selections. So when you find the Caroler that reminds you of your niece’s first Christmas, please don’t expect to find that same Caroler anywhere else!
