Christmas past is marvelously evoked throughout Antique Christmas at the Taft Museum, with new additions this year to the nostalgic feather trees and old-fashioned toys waiting for Christmas morning. Paper dolls have their own paper dollhouse and Noah's arks fill a display case, along with their attendant animals, two-by-two. There's a German miniature toy shop from the 1890s, a special Keystone Gallery display of printed Christmas cutouts in brilliant chromolithographic colors and, in the dining room, the table is set for a party about to happen.
If you're lucky enough to visit all this with a child, pick up the Scavenger Hunt for Kids sheet and let it guide you to the feather tree with Italian ornaments, another trimmed with angels and still another dressed with butterflies and flowers. In the front hall the wholly delightful Winter Wonderland is packed with pleasures. Interesting to note that the Santas, wearing what look like hoodies, are not like the jolly old elf of The Night Before Christmas. Their faces are serious and unsmiling. Among lenders to the exhibition are Kathy and Stewart “Greg” Gregory, who will give gallery talks at 1:30 p.m. Friday and Dec. 16. Reservations for the talks are required; free with museum admission.