Currencies

More Information

Christmas Decorations

In Europe, the first decorated Christmas trees were adorned with apples, white candy canes and pastries in the shapes of stars, hearts and flowers. Glass baubles were first made in Lauscha, Germany, including garlands of glass beads and glass and tin figures that could be hung on trees. Artisans heated a glass tube over a flame, then inserted the tube into a clay mold, blowing the heated glass to expand into the shape of the mold. The original ornaments were only in the shape of fruits and nuts. After the glass cooled, a silver nitrate solution was swirled into it, a silvering technique developed in the 1850s. The ornament was hand-painted and topped with a cap and hook. The Christmas baubles became popular throughout Germany.

On Christmas Eve 1832, a young Victoria wrote about her delight at having a tree, hung with lights, ornaments, and presents placed round it. In the 1840s, after a picture of Victoria's Christmas tree was shown in a London newspaper decorated with glass ornaments and baubles from her husband Prince Albert's native Germany, Lauscha began exporting its products throughout Europe. Large German glass ornaments from this period were called kugels and are highly sought after today. In the 1880s, American F. W. Woolworth discovered these Lauscha Christmas baubles during a visit to Germany, and he made a fortune importing them to the United States.

Today, sometimes antique glass ornaments made before World War II are called "mercury glass." This is a misleading term in that the silvering process uses only silver salts. Even earlier double-walled "mercury glass" used silver salts. Antique glass ornaments contain no mercury.

The modern-day image of Santa Claus was created in the 1840 Clement Moore's 1840 classic, A Visit From Saint Nicholas, and by the American cartoonist Thomas Nast in 1863. Each year Nast drew for Harper's Weekly magazine a new image of Santa, that by 1880s, evolved into a form we recognize today. By the 1920s the image was standardized by advertisers.

This category has ornaments and decorations from Christmas past and present.

HL1017



Old handblown glass coffee pot Christmas ornament Poland 3.25 in

This delicate hand blown glass ornament of a coffee pot is accented with a stenciled mica flower and painted leaves. It stands about 3.25 inches (8...

$8.99
... more info
HL1007

Other

Porcelain Santa Claus Figurine, 1930s Japan

This Santa Claus figurine is made of porcelain and cold painted. It has a mold mark on the back (S1496 or S/496), and is marked Japan on the base....

$5.99
... more info
HL1024



Santa Land 10 Assorted Christmas Tree Ornaments Poland Hand Painted Drops Balls

This is a box of Santa Land Christmas ornaments. They are hand painted and decorated with mica. The box original had 12, but only 10 remain. They...

$27.99
... more info
HL1023



Three Vintage Christmas Ornaments Shiny Brite Lanterns Bell USA

These three vintage silvered glass ornaments are marked USA and two are also marked Shiny Brite on the hanger caps. One is in the form of a bell and...

$8.99
... more info
HL1015



Vintage 15-inch plastic Santa Clause Christmas Display painted

This vintage 15-inch tall plastic Santa Clause figurine, when lit, emits a nice even warm glow and gives cheer to any Christmas display. It is made...

$6.99
... more info
HL1004

Other

Vintage Japan ART Co. ceramic Nativity set, Jesus and Angels

This is a vintage nativity set of Jesus in a manger cradle with three angels. It was made by the ART company of Japan, and probably dates from the...

$14.99
... more info

Featured Products - Christmas Decorations

Red, white, and blue Popeye marble and link to Akro Agate Popeye marbles on ebay Buy Akro Agate Popeye marbles on eBay!

Copyright © 2024 Inkspot Antiques and Collectibles. Powered by Zen Cart