Collecting Antique Christmas Ornaments

In A.D. 336, an early Roman calendar first mentions December 25 as the date of Jesus' birth. This date was likely influenced by the year-end pagan festivals to celebrate the harvest. Celebrations included specially prepared meals, decorating of homes, gift-giving and singing. Gradually, pagan traditions became a part of the Christian celebrations. Most Christmas traditions such as the Christmas tree and ornaments came from central Europe.

The most popular theory holds that the tradition was started by a monk who came to Germany in the 7th/8th century to preach. It is said that this monk was Saint Boniface, the Apostle of the Germans. According to history, the saint was the first one to bring a fir tree to the German people to decorate, for he claimed that its triangular shape represented the Holy Trinity - God, his son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. The tradition was lapped up by the devout Germans who started decorating the Christmas tree in a liturgical way with simple, white candles. This however, changed in the 15th century when ornaments began to be incorporated into the Christmas decorations in Germany.

In Latvia, circa 1510, a fir tree was decorated with roses which were associated with the Virgin Mary. This event is often hailed as the pioneer of modern Christmas decorations. The earliest German Christmas trees were decorated with food; apples, onions, pears, nuts, candies, and fruits were placed on a tree.

In the 1800s, glass ornaments were first made in the Lauscha, Germany. This cottage industry involved the entire family. Generally, men did the glassblowing, women did the silvering and the children helped to paint and finish them. These beautiful new glass ornaments began to replace edible decorations. Many German entrepreneurs seriously began to think of manufacturing ornaments on a mass scale and the rest is …history. In Victorian times, Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, a German, brought the tradition from Germany to his new home in England. Soon all of England was in on it.

In the 1840s, Europeans immigrating to North America brought with them their Christmas traditions. Prior to that time, Christmas was not widely celebrated in North America. The idea caught on in a big way.

Until 1925, virtually all hand blown glass ornaments were manufactured in Lauscha, Germany. By 1935, more then 250 million Christmas ornaments were being imported to the United States. After WWII, the Lauscha area became a part of East Germany. Many glassblowers fled to West Germany and the industry declined. Around this time, Japan and Czechoslovakia began producing ornaments for the North American market.

At the same time the Corning Company of Corning, New York began to create glass ornaments at the urging of Max Eckhardt who created the Shiny Brite Company (eventually sold to Radko).  F.W. Woolworth was the first North American retailer to sell glass ornaments. It is said that he was not too sure about this new product line until he realized he was selling $25 million worth of ornaments in his five-and-dime stores.

World War II broke out in 1939 which caused severe material shortages and forced Corning to do away with the earlier practice of making the inside of the ornaments silvered on the inside (to make them shine brightly for longer periods) and instead decorate the clear glass balls with simple thin stripes in pastel colors which required much less metallic oxide pigment.

In the 1960's, glass ornaments went out of fashion when the aluminum tree adorned with ornaments of similar shape and color became the rage. Many traditional ornaments were thrown away during this period.

What to Look for in Antique Ornaments

If you're lucky enough to still have any vintage ornaments, hang on to them.

Here are a few tips on how to tell vintage versus new:

• Earlier ornaments were smaller than today's modern ornaments.

• They were usually done in soft colors with hand painted details. You'll notice that the paint may be faded or distressed in areas on vintage ornaments.

• They were hand blown versus machine made. Remove the stem from the base of the ornament. Ornaments that are hand blown will have an uneven base because the glass blower cannot make a clean break. Modern machine made ornaments will have a smooth even base.

• Look for names of companies or countries of origin on the stem. Newer, cheaper decorations are not marked.

Where to find vintage ornaments:

• Ebay, flea markets, church sales and garage sales are all good hunting grounds for vintage ornaments. Collectors that specialize in Christmas collectables are usually very knowledgeable and occasionally sell their excess or duplicate ornaments which are how I got most of my favorite ones.

• Prices can vary from $2 - $200 depending on the ornament and where you buy it

There were many symbols used in the manufacturer and creation of Christmas glass ornaments. Fruit and vegetable shapes symbolized the harvest. Birds represented the biblical messengers that bring God's love and peace to the world. Birds were also symbolic of good luck and good fortune.

Pickle shapes signified luck. The first person to find the pickle ornament on Christmas morning would be assured of good luck for the entire year. The fish shape is an early Christian symbol for Christ. Star shapes represented the Star of Bethlehem.

Reflectors ornaments (ornaments with geometric concave indentations as shown) during Victorian times were often called witches eyes and were placed on the Christmas tree to fend off any evil spirits.

Eventually ornaments took on whimsical associations to musical instruments, and other elements of everyday life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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