Gurley candles remind me of when I was young. They made candles for everything! Christmas, Vintage Gurley Candles Thanksgiving and of course, Halloween.
Gurley candles was originally marketed under the brand name Tavern. They made wax lips, teeth and super cute candles for holidays. In the late 1940's the Tavern brand was put to rest and Gurley Novelty Candles was official.
These were and still are really not made to be candles, yet had a wick. You could burn them, sure. They don't smell at all while burning but they are a melted pile of mess in no time. These weren't the highest quality candle, in fact probably the lowest quality. Even if you never burned them and stored them in a hot attic or something, they'll be warped. Another reason why they've become collectible.
In the 1950's and 1960's, these were a staple for your holiday table or for decor. Gurleys were in expensive and sold at your local 5 & dime. Woolworths, Ben Franklin, Kmart etc.
Today the most popular ones for collectors are Halloween and Christmas. Halloween is more scarce than Christmas. Easter and Thanksgiving are a bit more rare. There was also a higher end line, Gurley Glow Candles and they are tough to find. Pieces found in their original box bring a premium.
Things began to decline for the company in the 70's.
Now, the Vermont Country Store Gurley Candles are produced using the original molds.
Where can you find these today? Search Gurley Candles Ebay and you'll find ALL kinds. So many great examples. If you want to know how to clean Gurley candles? Very carefully. They are easily scratched or damaged. I recommend wrapping them in very soft toilet paper and store in a cool place! Never put them on top of each other in a shoe box, okay??
Did you have these around the house when you were a kid? Or like me who still has them around even today?
Happy Halloween!
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