German Hand Blown Glass Ornaments-Delicate Christmas Gems on Your Tree

My heart broke a little bit last night when I heard the crash… a glass VW Bug ornament slipped from my hand and shattered on the wooden floor. I know, I know, they are only things… but some things have so much more value… both in emotional attachment and dollar signs. Luckily, it wasn’t one of the vintage German Hand-Blown Glass Ornaments that I treasure so much! And yet, although I have swept up shards and pieces more than once, it never occurred to me to NOT put these ornaments on my tree. Even though the loss of an ornament might cause a little heartbreak… the way my Christmas tree shines when the lights hit those gorgeous ornaments outweighs any fears I may have of losing them.

german hand blown glass ornaments

Photo by Karen Lodder

Find Glass Ornaments in our online German Christmas Market 

German Christmas Tree Ornaments

The first Christmas trees to come indoors (in the early 1600s) were decorated simply. Nuts, sweets, cookies, paper flowers and other simple ornaments (many edible) were hung on the tree. This made the Tree a special treat (especially for the kids who got to plunder the tree!) as well as a beautiful decoration.

Legend has it that an early glass blower did not have money to buy nuts and sweets for his family’s Christmas tree. Instead of leaving the tree bare, he blew colorful baubles to hang on the it. Other sources say a drought in the mid- 1800s made fruits and nuts scarce, and very expensive. Glassblowers, who had been blowing marbles, bottles and even small glass toys for years, started blowing fruit and nut shapes to make up for the missing ornaments.

German Hand-Blown Glass Ornaments

german hand blown glass ornaments

In the 1820s, Hans Greiner, a descendant of the Hans Greiner who established the first glass works in Lauscha, Germany, (a distant relative of mine!), (along with Christoph Muller) began producing Glass Ornaments or Glassschmuck, in the shape of fruits and nuts. The process combined blown glass with special molds. Adding mercury or silver nitrate (with some sugar water) inside glass gave them a beautiful silvery sheen.

german glass ornamentsPrince Albert, a native of Germany, brought these ornaments with him to England when he married Queen Victoria, and in 1846 when a photo of  the Royal Christmas Tree was published in a London newspaper… their popularity spread.

In the 1880’s, F.W. Woolworth discovered these magical decorations, and began selling them in America. (We can all blame Mr. Woolworth for spreading the story of the German Pickle ornament…. he came up with the legend as a way of moving the unwanted pickle ornaments at his 5 and Dime).

Inge-glas I Love You Gingerbread Heart 10149S018 IGM German Blown Glass Christmas OrnamentInge-glas I Love You Gingerbread Heart 10149S018 IGM German Blown Glass Christmas OrnamentInge-glas I Love You Gingerbread Heart 10149S018 IGM German Blown Glass Christmas Ornament

 Glass Ornaments first came from Germany

Germany was the primary producer of Hand Blown Glass Ornaments until the 1920’s, when Japan and Czechoslovakia began making and exporting their own glass ornaments. During World War 2, and the following occupation, many of the old family molds, which had been passed down for generations, were destroyed. Fortunately, the Muller family was able to save some, and smuggle them to safety.

After World War 2, Lauscha found itself behind the Wall. The company was turned over to the state as a VEB or Publicly owned business. Fortunately, after the East opened up, the company was returned to private ownership. Currently there are around 20 Glasshutte or Glass Blowing companies in Lauscha.

german glass ornaments

Today, the 14th generation of the family operates  Inge Glas… and they still produce ornaments like they did in the 1800s. Their collection has over 6000 molds, many of which are antique, dating back to the 1850s.

They are still created in the old way… blown into molds and hand painted or dipped.

Inge-Glas Huge collection has arrived 1900 plus pieces 1980-1990 early.Inge-Glas Huge collection has arrived 1900 plus pieces 1980-1990 early.Inge-Glas Huge collection has arrived 1900 plus pieces 1980-1990 early.

Shapes of glass ornaments may have changed with the times… you will find phones, cars and computer ornaments, and even special Bridal ornaments along side the baubles and stars… but the idea remains the same. Fragile glass shapes that capture light and make your Christmas tree sparkle!

The Glassblower Trilogy by Petra Durst-Benning

For a taste of life in a glassblower village in Germany, read the Glassblower. The book is set in Lauscha, and follows the family of glassblowers as they slowly convert their glassworks to Christmas baubles. (The Trilogy takes the family to America…and covers the spread of their ornaments to the US. Might the Christmas Pickle appear?)

The Glassblower (The Glassblower Trilogy, 1)The Glassblower (The Glassblower Trilogy, 1)The Glassblower (The Glassblower Trilogy, 1)

See German Blown Glass Ornaments Being Made

This first video is a step by step explanation of how the ornaments are made… it’s quite interesting to see all the details and hear the science behind it.

This video shows what it’s like at the Inge Glass Factory. It’s quite a delight for the eyes!

Find German Hand Blown Glass Ornaments HERE

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Inge Glas Bavaria Hans 1-044-12 German Blown Glass Christmas Ornament Gift BoxInge Glas Bavaria Hans 1-044-12 German Blown Glass Christmas Ornament Gift BoxAmerican Santa with Globe - German Blown Glass - Lauscha GermanyAmerican Santa with Globe – German Blown Glass – Lauscha GermanyInge Glas Bavaria German Gear 1-046-12 German Blown Glass Christmas OrnamentInge Glas Bavaria German Gear 1-046-12 German Blown Glass Christmas OrnamentInge Glas Santa Gift Giver 1-080-16 German Blown Glass Christmas OrnamentInge Glas Santa Gift Giver 1-080-16 German Blown Glass Christmas Ornament

 

Vintage German Hand Blown Glass Ornaments

Amazing how these fragile beauties survived. (clearly, they don’t have someone like me around). Wouldn’t these ornaments be a lovely memory of Christmas past?

Vintage Krebs Glas Nutcracker Christmas Ornament Made in GermanyVintage Krebs Glas Nutcracker Christmas Ornament Made in GermanyVintage Krebs Glas Nutcracker Christmas Ornament Made in GermanySet of 6 Vintage West German Glass Christmas Ornaments, Vintage German Angel Ornament, Vintage German Angel Ornaments, Made in West GermanySet of 6 Vintage West German Glass Christmas Ornaments, Vintage German Angel Ornament, Vintage German Angel Ornaments, Made in West GermanySet of 6 Vintage West German Glass Christmas Ornaments, Vintage German Angel Ornament, Vintage German Angel Ornaments, Made in West GermanyChristmas Ornament German Vintage Glass Indent Reflector's #05555Christmas Ornament German Vintage Glass Indent Reflector’s #05555Christmas Ornament German Vintage Glass Indent Reflector's #05555Antique Glass Ornaments x 5Antique Glass Ornaments x 5Antique Glass Ornaments x 5Vintage Glass Santa OrnamentVintage Glass Santa OrnamentVintage Glass Santa OrnamentSet of 7 Vintage West German Glass Christmas Ornaments, Vintage German Santa Ornament, Vintage German Angel Ornaments, Made in West GermanySet of 7 Vintage West German Glass Christmas Ornaments, Vintage German Santa Ornament, Vintage German Angel Ornaments, Made in West GermanySet of 7 Vintage West German Glass Christmas Ornaments, Vintage German Santa Ornament, Vintage German Angel Ornaments, Made in West Germany

 

German Christmas Holiday Ornaments Set Unique Vintage Family Tree Decorations Glass Gold Glitter Christmas Baubles Tree DécorGerman Christmas Holiday Ornaments Set Unique Vintage Family Tree Decorations Glass Gold Glitter Christmas Baubles Tree DécorGerman Christmas Holiday Ornaments Set Unique Vintage Family Tree Decorations Glass Gold Glitter Christmas Baubles Tree DécorGlass Ornament from GermanyGlass Ornament from GermanyGlass Ornament from Germany

 

 

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Hang Your German Blown Glass Ornaments!

Like Oma’s special dishes and that lovely tablecloth you inherited… Ornaments were meant to be used and enjoyed. Don’t keep them in a drawer or box. Use them, enjoy them, and get all the pleasure from these special objects that you can.

And if they break? At least you know they were loved before they were lost! Or worse, you never use them, and whoever comes after you just donates them away because they never realized how special they are!

Frohe Weihnachten!

 

 

german glass ornament pin

10 thoughts on “German Hand Blown Glass Ornaments-Delicate Christmas Gems on Your Tree

  1. I used to have my great grandparents ornaments. Some dated back to the 1890’s. So beautiful

  2. Hi I was just wondering if someone could please get back to me about my beautiful kugel christmas ornaments grapes i believe there geniun pieces made by Hans Greiner Germany many years ago many thanks look forward to your reply thank you

  3. My most prized Vintage German Christmas Ornament broke this year as I was taking my tree down. I inherited The Sacred Heart of Jesus ornament from my mother and I have had it on my tree every year since she passed in 2007. I am heartbroken and have scoured the internet to try and find a replacement. In 2015 I saw some just like it at the Chicago Christkindelmarket. I also found a vintage one on eBay, but was not willing to pay the high price of $975.00:( Do you have any idea how to contact the companies that produce these ornaments from old moulds? I can send you a picture of the ornament that I’m looking to replace and any help you could give would be most appreciated.

  4. I was born in the 1930’s and so remember my German relatives. They had some of these and I always wished for a few myself. The cost of them was the real problem.

  5. I have always loved these glass ornaments on my tree and I wish it were possible to learn this craft.
    I love building my collection over the past 4 years. Thank you for this post as its made me realise how much more precious my ornaments are.

    1. they really are beautiful, aren’t they? And such a nice history

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