This slightly frightening Sankt Nikolaus can be found at Unicorn Antiques on Dundas Street.
For much of the day he stands in the basement window, bag in one hand, doll and a few twigs for whipping wicked children in the other, nodding.
He is an acquired taste.
Spurtle likes him, dating as he does from a period before Coca Cola put the saccharine in Santa's sack. His origins, however, are entirely commercial. This Father Christmas was always intended as a shop display.
The German-made automaton dates from the early 20th century (1900–10), and is driven by clockwork. The felt outfit is original; but the gold cracker and tinsel are new, and the old doll replaces a small dog which once clung there. One spring in the mechanism was replaced after Santa became too wound-up a few years ago.
Unicorn Antiques' owner acquired the piece from a bucketman in the late 1960s. He in turn had acquired it from two old ladies who ran a sweetie shop on the North Bridge.
Despite its appearance in the window, the item is certainly not for sale – over the past four decades or so, it has become far too much of a favourite with locals and regular customers to be parted with.
For insights into Germany's variant disturbing Father Christmases and the global influence of the brilliant Thomas Nast, visit here and here.
