We all cherish a beloved Christmas decoration. You know, the one that instantly caught your attention and you had to own it. Or, the one with immense emotional significance. Regardless of the reason, you’ve likely pondered: “What are Christmas decorations made from?” or, “how are glass Christmas ornaments crafted?” If so, today’s your fortunate day to learn more! 

How Are Glass Christmas Decorations Crafted?

Curiously, glass Christmas ornaments are produced today in a manner similar to their 1847 inception in Lauscha, Germany. 

 

Shall we journey back in history?

In the late 1500s, long before glass Christmas decorations made their appearance, Lauscha gained renown for its uniquely handcrafted glassworks, including: drinkware, flasks, bowls, beads, and glass eyes. Lauscha’s forested terrain provided abundant glass-making resources of wood, fine sand, and local limestone.

During this era, German Europe commemorated Christmas by chopping down the Tannenbaum (Christmas tree), displaying it indoors, and adorning it with nuts, fruits, and tinsel (that’s right, we owe the traditional Christmas tree and tinsel to German Europe!).

One of Lauscha’s most renowned glass artisans (and a direct descendant of one of the earliest glassmakers in Lauscha) was Hans Greiner. Greiner took a daring step and aimed to create a more permanent display of the long-cherished German tradition of embellishing the Christmas tree with nuts and fruits. By leveraging his glassmaking expertise, Greiner initiated the delightful Christmas tradition admired to this day.

So, what was his method?

Molten glass tubes were mouth-blown into clay molds resembling nuts and fruits. Once cooled, the kugels (ornaments), were filled with a silver solution, typically mercury or lead (later substituted with silver nitrate) to yield a silver finish.  

Zooming forward to modern times, glass decorations are produced by heating a clear glass cylinder with an elongated blow-pipe at the end. The glass tube is consistently rotated over a flame, evenly heating the glass until it becomes pliable (indicated by a glowing effect). Once the entire heated end glows and is soft, it’s time to shape it! The glass artisan blows into the long tube, inflating the glass bubble into the shape of the mold it’s placed in. 

Creating the molds involves a complex process. Molds start as a sketch, then are sculpted from plaster and cast into a dual-piece metal mold. 

 

To prevent the ornament from shattering, the glass artisan gradually reduces the temperature using a less intense flame. The newly shaped glass is then placed in an annealer (an oven for ornaments) to cool.

The glass maker pours a silvering solution into the stem of the ornament and dips the ornament into warm water. This activates the silvering chemicals, providing the ornament with a mirror-like interior finish, an elegant touch pioneered by Greiner himself in 1847.

 

Now, for the exciting part!

Ornaments are immersed in lacquer for coloration, with the silvering solution shimmering through the lacquer. From here, the ornaments take on unique characteristics and are hand-painted to highlight their shapes. Glue can be applied in select areas to affix glitter, adding extra sparkle.

A cut is made at the stem’s base, and the stem is detached. A cap is fastened onto the top where the stem was separated. At this point, the ornament is prepared for its new owner to integrate into their festive collection!

Greiner’s decision to visually preserve an age-old German custom through hand-blown nut and fruit decorations has forever transformed a Christmas tradition embraced by millions globally today.

Glass Christmas Ornaments Arrive in the U.S.

The U.S. encountered glass Christmas decorations for the first time in 1880 when a traveling German vendor visited a shop in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and presented owner Frank Woolworth with Lauscha ornaments for sale at his store. 

Woolworth reluctantly purchased a case, doubting their appeal since they didn’t “do” anything. Contrary to his skepticism, Americans adored the ornaments, and they sold out rapidly. Woolworth doubled his orders the following year and eventually opened an international store in Liverpool, England, featuring glass Christmas decorations prominently.

At Gift All Season, every ornament you discover, whether it’s an elaborate bird decoration, dog decoration, or cat decoration, is a finely crafted, mouth-blown, hand-painted glass ornament created much like those invented in 1847. 

Therefore, the next time you’re asked, “what are Christmas decorations made from?” or, “how are Christmas decorations made?” you can share the tale of this 173-year-old German tradition and how we are fortunate to have been introduced to them! 

For more details, explore our article about the history of why Christmas trees have decorations, and tell us about your favorite Christmas ornament in the comments below!