Finding a single ornament is easy. Buying a whole set of 12 days of christmas figurines? That's where things get complicated, expensive, and honestly, a little bit addictive.
Most people think they can just walk into a department store and grab a box. Maybe in 1995. Today, collecting these pieces is more like a high-stakes scavenger hunt across eBay, estate sales, and high-end boutiques. It's a niche world. You’ve got the porcelain purists who only want Lennox or Waterford, and then you have the whimsical folks hunting down those weirdly specific Jim Shore designs.
The song itself is a cumulative nightmare. Twelve drummers, eleven pipers... it’s a lot of porcelain to dust. But there is a reason these sets remain the "Final Boss" of Christmas decor. They tell a story that spans nearly two weeks of history, or at least they’re supposed to.
The weird history behind those birds and musicians
We’ve all heard the urban legend. You know the one—that the song was a "secret catechism" for underground Catholics in England. It's a great story. It's also totally fake.
Historians like William Studwell, who was basically the king of carol research, pointed out that the song is just a "memory and forfeit" game. Kids had to recite the lyrics, and if they messed up, they had to give someone a kiss or a piece of candy. There’s no hidden code. A partridge is just a partridge.
When you start looking for 12 days of christmas figurines, you’ll notice designers take huge liberties with this history. Some go for the "Old World" European look, while others, like Christopher Radko, turn the whole thing into a neon glass explosion.
Why some sets are worth more than your car
Okay, maybe not your car, but definitely a very nice mountain bike.
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Take the Byer’s Choice Carolers. These aren't just toys; they’re handcrafted figures with clay faces and real fabric clothes. If you try to assemble a full 12-piece set of their specialized "Twelve Days" line, you're looking at spending thousands of dollars. Why? Because they don't release them all at once. They drip-feed them over years.
If you missed the "Seven Swans a Swimming" figurine in 2018, you’re basically at the mercy of a collector in Ohio who knows exactly what they have.
Then there’s Department 56. Their Heritage Village collection had a specific series for this. They’re tiny. They’re delicate. And if you break the beak off the French Hen, your set value plummets. It’s a stressful hobby. Honestly, the secondary market for these is more volatile than some tech stocks. You see prices spike in October and crash by February.
The "Big Three" styles you'll actually find
Most 12 days of christmas figurines fall into three camps.
First, you have the Traditionalist style. Think Lennox. Cream-colored porcelain, 24-karat gold accents, very "don't touch that or you're grounded." These are the ones that sit on the mantel and never move. They’re timeless, but let’s be real, they’re a bit stiff.
Second is the Folk Art vibe. Jim Shore is the undisputed heavy hitter here. His "Heartwood Creek" series uses quilt-like patterns and "carved wood" textures, even though it's actually stone resin. People go nuts for these because they feel "homey." They aren't trying to be fancy; they’re trying to be cozy.
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Finally, there’s the Modern/Whimsical category. This is where you find the stuff at Anthropologie or small artisan shops on Etsy. These might be made of felt, mismatched metals, or even recycled glass. They’re for the person who wants the 12 days theme but doesn't want their living room to look like a Victorian museum.
Identifying a "quality" figurine without getting scammed
How do you know if that "vintage" piece is actually worth the $80 price tag?
Look at the bottom. Always.
A genuine Waterford Crystal piece will have a microscopic acid-etched mark. If it’s not there, it’s just glass. If you’re looking at ceramic figures, check for "crazing"—those tiny little spiderweb cracks in the glaze. Some people think it proves age, but it actually shows the piece wasn't stored in a climate-controlled area. It’s a sign of future instability.
Also, weight matters. Cheap knock-offs are usually hollow and light. High-end 12 days of christmas figurines have heft. They feel substantial in your hand because they’re made of dense resin or solid porcelain.
The logistics of displaying twelve different things
This is the part nobody talks about. Where do you put them?
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If you have twelve separate figurines, you need a lot of horizontal real estate. A standard fireplace mantel is usually too crowded once you hit day seven. Most serious collectors use a "tiered" display.
- The Pyramidal Method: Put the Drummers and Pipers at the back (they’re usually the tallest) and work your way down to the Partridge at the front center.
- The Clock Layout: If you have a round table, placing them in a circle like a clock face is a killer move.
- The Shadowbox: This is the "safe" option. If you have cats or toddlers, put the figurines in a glass-front cabinet. Trust me.
Finding the "Missing" Days
It happens to everyone. You find a "nearly complete" set of 12 days of christmas figurines at a thrift store for $20. You think you’ve won. Then you realize it’s missing the "Nine Ladies Dancing."
Finding a single replacement is the hardest part of this hobby. Brands like Fitz and Floyd change their molds every few years. A "Maid a Milking" from 2005 won't look like the one from 2012. The scale will be off. The paint won't match.
Your best bet? Replacements, Ltd. is a real company in North Carolina that basically functions as a massive warehouse for lost dishes and figurines. They are the "Emergency Room" for collectors. If they don't have it, you're looking at months of saved searches on eBay.
Is it even worth the hassle?
Collectibles are a weird business. From a purely financial standpoint, most figurines don't "appreciate" like a Bored Ape NFT or a rare Pokémon card. You buy them because they make the house feel like Christmas.
There’s something weirdly satisfying about pulling out that box in December. You remember when you found the "Five Golden Rings" at that weird shop in Vermont. You remember how much you complained about the price of the "Ten Lords a Leaping."
The set becomes a timeline of your life.
Actionable steps for the aspiring collector:
- Pick a brand and stay loyal: Don't mix Jim Shore with Lennox. It looks cluttered. Pick one aesthetic and stick to it so the set looks cohesive when finished.
- Check the "Secondary Market" first: Before buying new, check sites like Mercari or Poshmark. People often sell half-finished sets when they move houses.
- Invest in storage: Don't throw these in a cardboard box. Buy acid-free tissue paper and a hardshell ornament chest. If a wing snaps off a "Six Geese a Laying," the set's soul is basically gone.
- Start with Day 1: It sounds obvious, but don't buy the Drummers first. Start with the Partridge and work your way up. It makes the hunt feel like progress rather than just a pile of random statues.
- Verify the material: If the listing says "Stone Resin," it's durable. If it says "Cold-Cast Porcelain," it’s a mix of resin and porcelain dust—cheaper, but less "prestigious" than true fired porcelain.
Collecting 12 days of christmas figurines is a marathon, not a sprint. It’ll probably take you five years to get a set you actually like. But once those twelve pieces are lined up on the sideboard, and the lights hit them just right, you’ll get it. It’s not just about the birds and the musicians. It’s about the fact that you actually finished the set without losing your mind.