Ralph Giguere resides in Glenside, Pennsylvania, just outside of Philadelphia. A 1980 graduate of the University of The Arts in Philadelphia, he is a freelance illustrator whose worked has appeared in numerous publications including The New Yorker and The Atlantic Monthly. He is also an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Illustration Department of The University of the Arts for the past 19 years.  

Ralph has been collecting antique holiday decoration for more that 25 years. He bought his first holiday lantern, a molded cardboard jack o’lantern, at an antique shop in Philadelphia shortly after graduating from college. His collecting accelerated after finding a molded cardboard cat lantern and a small Santa candy container from the 1920’s at the Allentown Toy Show. He began making holiday lanterns and candy containers to expand his personal collection so that it could include hard to find, or one-of-a-kind items. 

Ralph says of this work, “I like the look of the early representations of Santa Claus. I am drawn to the imagination of the many talented artists and cottage industry workers who brought all of these representations to life. Their talents, together with 100 plus years of age, result in truly magical imagery. Decorating with these collectibles—whether they are antiques or fine reproductions—transports you to holidays long past. I have also particularly enjoyed sharing my love of these collectibles with the many people who have purchased my reproductions over the years. I feel privileged that my pieces are sharing mantels and tabletops with well loved family heirlooms.”

These reproductions fit in seamlessly with antique collections and can be found in the homes of many fine collectors across the country.

Ralph is a member of The Golden Glow of Christmas Past, an international club for collectors of antique Christmas items.

His work has been featured in Early American Life, Country Homes, and Country Living. Ralph has repeatedly been selected as one of “America's Top 25 Holiday Craftsman” by Early American Life.