The History of German Glass Ornaments
German glass ornaments have a long history of being one of the most popular Christmas tree decorations. The first ornaments were made in Lauscha, Germany, and are still made there today. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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Hans Greiner invented the first German hand-blown glass Christmas ornaments in 1847 in the shape of fruits and nuts. The inside of the ornaments were made to look silvery by using mercury or lead, but were later switched to sugar water or a special silver nitrate mixture.
Time Frame
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By 1870, these ornaments were being exported to Britain. In the 1880's, dime store magnate F.W. Woolworth discovered the ornaments on a trip to Germany and started importing them to the United States.
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Myths
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Hanging a German glass pickle ornament is supposed to be a longstanding tradition in Germany. However, it has never been proven to be a true custom in Germany. The myth states that a pickle ornament is hidden on the tree, and the first child to find it gets an extra present; the first adult to find it will have a year of good luck.
Types
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German glass ornaments are made in a variety of types and sizes. Round balls, fruits, angels, Santa Claus, animals and snowmen are examples of different types of ornaments.
Value
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Antique hand-blown German glass ornaments are highly prized by collectors and can be quite valuable.
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References
- Photo Credit christmas ornament image by Wimbledon from Fotolia.com
