Christmas Ornaments

About Antique and Vintage Christmas Ornaments

Until the mid-1800’s, Christmas trees were mostly decorated with homemade adornments or edibles like fruits and nuts. But the German entrepreneurs based in the glassblowing center of Lauscha had a better idea. They began producing decorative tree ornaments made out of blown glass. In the 1880s, F.W. Woolworth imported the first of these baubles into the U.S., triggering the American love affair with Christmas tree ornaments.

The first molded-glass Lauscha ornaments resembled fruits and nuts, presumably to replicate the tradition of putting the real things on trees. Glass pickles, of all things, were also produced. These were reportedly hung on trees in order to make a game of seeing which child could find it first—the reward was a year of good luck. Cookie shapes such as hearts and stars followed the food ornaments, while ornaments depicting children, saints, and animals appeared shortly after that...

Around the same time in northern Bohemia (now the Czech Republic), glassblowers were making what are now known as Gablonz ornaments out of silver-lined glass beads. Wire was used to string the beads together in a variety of shapes—from windmills and chandeliers to spiders and stars. Later, between the wars, transportation-themed ornaments appeared resembling boats, zeppelins, airplanes, and bicycles.

Meanwhile, in Dresden, beginning in about 1880, some nine different companies were making embossed cardboard ornaments, which are highly collectible today. Some were printed on just one side (referred to as "flat" by collectors) while others were printed on both ("double"). The most elaborate of the Dresden ornaments were those built of two molded pieces that had been glued together. Colors ranged from silver and bronze (to replicate the look of metal) to naturalistic hues (as you might guess, lobster ornaments were painted red).

Early catalogs by Dresden manufacturers such as Edvard Witte show menageries of common barnyard creatures as well as more exotic beasts—lions, polar bears, birds of prey. Eagles and owls were especially popular, and if you are in possession of an ostrich pulling a cart, then you own a particularly rare Dresden ornament. Flowers, fruits, and vegetables were common, but angels and other ornaments with religious themes were less so, making them more collectible today.

A particularly interesting subset of Dresden ornaments are those made between the 1930s and 1960s, reflecting the Soviet influence on that part of Germany. Some of these so-called Russian Dresdens seem oblivious to the political winds that swirled around them—a clown head, a man walking a dog, Puss ’n’ Boots—but when the ornament consists of a silver star with a hammer and sickle in its center from 1935, or a cute little waving Cosmonaut from 1960, the intended message is obviously more overt.

The handmade German ornament trade foundered after World War I, so American manufacturers filled the void, mass-producing ornaments that were sent to other companies to be decorated, often by hand. The largest of these symbiotic business relationships was between the Corning Company and Shiny Brite. In 1940, Corning was producing as many as 300,000 ornaments a day, which Shiny Brite decorated and packaged from 1937 until 1962—you can date the ones produced during World War II because their metal caps were replaced with cardboard ones to save metal.

Today, collectors of antique and vintage Christmas tree ornaments tend to focus on themes, periods, materials, or even shapes. For collectors of Shiny Brite in particular, a set of ornaments in its original festively colored box is also desirable.

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Interviews & Articles

An Interview With Antique Christmas Ornament Collector Jerry Arnold

About 42 years ago, my wife, Darla, went to a very large white elephant sale and found a box of antique Christmas o… [more]

An Interview with Antique Christmas Decorations Collector Dolph Gotelli

I grew up in a home without any antiques. As a small kid, I started decorating my parents’ home for Christmas. I do… [more]

Guest Column: A History of Dimestore Christmas Village Houses

The following is a history of these wondrous little artifacts called cardboard Christmas village houses - a history… [more]

Guest Column: A Guide to Christmas Antiques and Vintage Christmas Decorations

Ever wonder about that box of vintage Christmas decorations in the attic? From wooden nutcrackers to glass Christrm… [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Bohemian Christmas Decorations

Bohemian Christmas Decorations

This simple site showcases over 500 artistic Gablonz glass bead antique and vintage Christmas tree ornaments, made … [read review or visit site]

Papa Teds Place

Papa Teds Place

Theodore H. Althof, Jr's beautiful collection of vintage dimestore cardboard Christmas 'putz' village houses. Start… [read review or visit site]

Old Soviet Christmas Cards

Old Soviet Christmas Cards

This site showcases over 1000 old Soviet Christmas and New Years cards from 1950 to 1990. Browse through page after… [read review or visit site]


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Top eBay Auctions  Help | Get weekly Christmas Ornaments email

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Hand Painted Ornament, Lily The Black Bear, 2010$305.00 Ends Thursday 28 bids 22 watchers
Antique Vintage Kugel Grape Colbalt/purple Ornament$255.00 Ends in 7 hours 4 bids 10 watchers
Buccellati Sterling Silver Tiger Ornament $150.00 Ends in 3 hours 1 bid 1 watcher
Polonaise Holy Family Boxed Set - 3 Ornaments In Case$138.49 Ends Thursday 35 bids 4 watchers
Buccellati Sterling Silver 1993 Christmas Ornament $120.00 Ends in 3 hours 2 bids 4 watchers
Radko Ornament Celebrate Adoption 2005 New In Box$105.03 Ends in 3 hours 6 bids 10 watchers
The Wizard Of Oz Polonaise Ornament Set$100.00 Ends Thursday 3 bids 1 watcher
9 Vtg Blown Glass Clip On Mushrooms Christmas Ornaments$80.00 Ends Wednesday 10 bids 24 watchers
Vintage Christmas Ornaments Shiny Brite$65.00 Ends Tuesday 14 bids 32 watchers
6 Vtg Clip On Spun Cotton Mushrooms Christmas Ornaments$61.00 Ends Wednesday 5 bids 6 watchers
Vintage Christmas Ornament Celluloid 1940s Very Rare$55.00 Ends in 11 hours 1 bid 10 watchers
Waterford Crystal Christmas Ornament 2006 Red Star$53.99 Ends Monday 2 bids 2 watchers
Old Antique Vintage German Christmas Ornament Doll Head$51.00 Ends in 11 hours 9 bids 35 watchers
6 Vintage Bumpy Birds W/google Eyes Ornaments Iob $49.99 Ends in 11 hours 1 bid 4 watchers
Old Antique Vintage German Christmas Ornament Snow Baby$46.00 Ends in 11 hours 7 bids 17 watchers
De Carlini Italian Vintage Italian Homemaker Ornament$46.00 Ends in 5 hours 1 bid 7 watchers
2004 Harley Davidson Collectible Tank Ornament Set Nib$45.00 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 4 watchers
Mr. Moto. Chinese Man Radko 1994 Italian Xmas Ornament$44.22 Ends Tuesday 10 bids 19 watchers
Daum France Crystal Ornament Angel Circa 1997 Signed$43.00 Ends Monday 6 bids 11 watchers
Neiman Marcus Sterling Silver Christmas Ornaments 1990$42.00 Ends Thursday 2 bids 5 watchers
Radko Ornament Celebrate Adoption 2004 New In Box$41.03 Ends in 3 hours 7 bids 7 watchers
Vtg Clip On Mercury Glass Bird In Nest Xmas Ornament$41.00 Ends Wednesday 12 bids 17 watchers
Christopher Radko Ornament: Breezy Billy!!$40.88 Ends Tuesday 7 bids 5 watchers
Antique Vintage German Christmas Ornament Teddy Bear $39.45 Ends in 13 hours 2 bids 16 watchers
3 Antique Blown Glass Mushrooms Christmas Ornaments$39.00 Ends Wednesday 5 bids 6 watchers
Christopher Radko Ornament: Dapper Hair Portrait!!$39.00 Ends in 1 hour 4 bids 7 watchers
Vintage Kugel Mercury Glass Ornament Beautiful Blue$36.00 Ends Tuesday 2 bids 7 watchers
Antique German Bisque Baby In Basket X-mas Ornament$36.00 Ends in 8 hours 5 bids 37 watchers
2 Vtg Bohemian Glass Beaded Bell In Ring Xmas Ornaments$34.00 Ends Wednesday 4 bids 4 watchers
Vintage Shiny Brite Christmas Ornaments Holiday Decor$33.00 Ends in 9 hours 4 bids 8 watchers
Old Antique Vintage German Christmas Ornament Blow Fish$33.00 Ends in 12 hours 3 bids 8 watchers
Vintage Blown Mercury Glass Clip On Christmas Ornament$32.00 Ends Thursday 3 bids 29 watchers
Arthur Court Easter Bunny Rabbit Ornament In Org Box$31.98 Ends Tuesday 9 bids 3 watchers
Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments Easter Lot Of 40 1990's$31.01 Ends Wednesday 7 bids 15 watchers
Antique Tinsel Ring With Paper Rose Christmas Ornament$31.00 Ends Wednesday 5 bids 11 watchers
Lot 58 Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments 1980-2005$30.99 Ends in 10 hours 6 bids 23 watchers
1991 P. Buckley Moss Ornament - Noel - W/box$30.00 Ends in 2 hours 2 bids 1 watcher
Christopher Radko Hi-ho Blitzen! Ornament 1013235$29.95 Ends in 14 hours 1 bid 1 watcher
Wood Carved Dark Green Hat Santa Ornament Ooak !$28.50 Ends in 9 hours 4 bids 9 watchers
Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments Easter Lot Of 36 1990's$27.99 Ends Wednesday 6 bids 12 watchers
Vtg Glass Bead Bohemian Xmas Ornament - Wire Wrapped$27.00 Ends Tuesday 4 bids 8 watchers
Vintage Glass Beaded Carousel Christmas Ornament #16$26.55 Ends in 12 hours 6 bids 23 watchers
Wood Carved Wind Blown Jolly Santa Gnome Ornament Ooak$26.26 Ends in 9 hours 4 bids 5 watchers
Wallace 1991 Silver Sleigh Bell Ornament Original Box $26.12 Ends Tuesday 4 bids 7 watchers
Gorham Sterling Icicle 1973 Christmas Ornament Rare N/r$26.02 Ends Tuesday 4 bids 11 watchers
Margaret Furlong Christmas Ornament Lot Heart Angels +$26.00 Ends in 10 hours 6 bids 18 watchers
Antique Dresden Candy Container Christmas Ornament Egg $26.00 Ends in 12 hours 4 bids 12 watchers
Wood Carved Wind Blown Red Santa Gnome Ornament Ooak$26.00 Ends in 8 hours 6 bids 7 watchers
Wood Carved Green Santa Wizard Ornament Ooak !$26.00 Ends in 8 hours 3 bids 11 watchers
Wood Carved Baby Blue Big Mustache Santa Ornament Ooak$26.00 Ends in 9 hours 6 bids 5 watchers
Old German End Of Day Ornament - Big Great Color$25.49 Ends Monday 2 bids 15 watchers
Vintage Hallmark Beatles Ornament Set$25.09 Ends in 7 hours 7 bids 15 watchers
Lost In Space Robot B-9 Christmas Ornament$25.00 Ends in 7 hours 1 bid 7 watchers
1992 P. Buckley Moss - First Angel- Ornament$25.00 Ends in 2 hours 1 bid 3 watchers
Wood Carved Purple Hat Santa Driftwood Ornament Ooak !$25.00 Ends in 9 hours 3 bids 5 watchers
Antique Dresden Hat Box Christmas Ornament-german$25.00 Ends in 4 hours 2 bids 10 watchers
Wood Carved Pearl Blue Hooded Santa Ornament Ooak !$25.00 Ends in 9 hours 4 bids 4 watchers
Wood Carved Happy Santa Ornament Ooak Original !$25.00 Ends in 9 hours 6 bids 8 watchers

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Recent News: Christmas Ornaments

Source: Google News

A Camp Fire celebration
The Review, March 20th

The Homer Laughlin China Company produced a miniature Fiestaware plate as a centennial Christmas ornament emblazoned with the Camp Fire USA centennial logo...Read more

12 Reasons Alex Chilton Was Cool
ChartAttack, March 18th

He made such an impression on me as a teenager that I made a Big Star Christmas ornament in welding class in high school and tried to write a whole novel...Read more

Bouncing Back
BusinessWeek, March 17th

He takes the view that when your company falters-not if, but when-the key to survival is knowing whether you'll bounce like a Christmas ornament,...Read more

Lawler: Hey, want to buy my used crap?
DesMoinesRegister.com, March 17th

Those "Phantom Menace" cup toppers and that oddly-painted Captain America Christmas ornament that for some reason I have two of probably qualify as crap...Read more

Artist to Presidents: Seton McGlennon
CaryCitizen, March 6th

As a gift to her buyers she would paint a picture of the house on a Christmas ornament. The housing market began to lag and she found herself spending more...Read more

Reluctant honor looms for folk art shop
Worcester Telegram, March 5th

Jennifer M. Callahan, D-Sutton, has sponsored a bill that would make Vaillancourt Folk Art the official Christmas ornament and collectibles maker of...Read more

Canada Wins Men's Olympic Curling Gold
New York Times, February 27th

On this day, the Christmas ornament pants and the Norwegian curlers who wore them lost. The home team, led by Martin, the bald and famous skip, won...Read more

Teaching Gratitude – Grateful Kids are Happy Kids
Rancho Murieta Online, February 23rd

In the case of the (lame) 2009 Snoopy Christmas ornament gift, the child needs some insight into Aunt Nellie's intentions and gift giving process...Read more

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