| What do the individual shapes mean? |
| Christmas Ornament Legends |
| The natural beauty of a glass ornament embodies the long process of its creation. These skills were perfected by gifted German artisans and passed down from generation to generation in the authentic tradition of creating cherished Christmas heirlooms. The birthplace of the glass Christmas ornament is deep in the Franconian mountians of Northern Bavaria. At Inge-Glas, founded by the direct descendants of the original glassblowers of Lauscha, the time-honored art of German glass-blowing endures to this day. This family of gifted artisans represents a living legacy to the exceptional talent and dedication needed to create tomorrow's heirlooms today. Each glassblower begins with a "blank", a small hollow ball of glass with a long stem. Heated over a flame until it is red hot, the blank is set into the bottom half of a porcelain mold and then covered with the top half. The glassblower blows in the stem until the molten glass conforms to the shape of the mold. He then removes the ornament, reheats it a second time and gives the stem one final puff. This extra step tempers the ornament, thereby preventing stress cracks. Once the ornament has cooled, it is silvered. A mixture of silver nitrate, ammonia and distilled water is poured into the ornament along with a few drops of a combination of saltpeter, sugar and more distilled water. The ornament is then dipped into a hot water bath where the muddy-brown mixture matically turns into a glistening silver color. When rinsed, the ornament is placed upside down on a nail and set in a drying oven. After completely drying, the silvered ornament is taken to the artist's table for painting. Applying each color individually is a separate process and the ornament is repeatedly set aside to dry before the next color may be added. This can involve up to thirty applications and requires much skill on the part of the artisan to ensure exacting detail and that one color does not overlap another. Glitter is then applied to the ornament to add sparkling highlights, the stem is broken off, and the cap is put into place. An heirlom is born and the radiant new ornament takes its proper place on the Christmas tree. |
| Bells rang throughout the world when Christ was born, according to early legend. Traditionally, bells have been used throughout Europe and America to ring in the Christmas season., The ringing of bells during the holiday season provides a joyful accompaniment to the festive singing of favorite carols. Bells have come to represent a vital part of Christmas celebrations as church bells and sleigh bells brighten winter days with their joyous tinkle. Bell ornaments symbolize the joy and merriment of the Christmas holidays, and are a welcome addition to Christmas traditions. Accordions were the instruments of choice among early German glassblowers. One of the most common charactyerists fo the German glassblowers was their extraordinary love of music. Their talent for playing musical instruments was uncanny, with many able to play most any tune "by ear". When asked how they learned to oplay an instrument so well, the answer was often that they simply picked it uup and started to play without sheet music or lessons. At the turn of the century, there wqas a musical club just for accordion players, and the accordion quickly became the official symbol of the blassblowers' guild. Coffee Pots are symbolic of hospitality. In Germany, as in America, it is customary to bring a gift of thanks to the hosts whenever entering their home in appreciation of their invitation. As common household items were duplicated as whimsical tree decorations made by German glassblowers, the glass coffee pot Christmas tree ornament delighted many homemakers. A popular gift and party favor, this traditional ornament oftenwas given to commemorate an anniversary, cheer a new home or to accompany an actual coffee pot as a gift. Baskets of Christmas goodies, candies and flowers, given as gifts, are a traditional means of expressing one's affection for others at Christmas. According to German legend, baskets were a symbol of plentiful good wishes for friends and family. Gifts of baskets filled with treats were often grand expressions of the care the giver felt towards the recipient. Glass basket ornaments were ultimately created by skilled glassblowers to represent the Christmas spirit of selfless giving. Rabbits are very shy and frail animals by nature. Having no natural means of protecting itself, the rabbit is therefore dependent on the kindness of man and other animals for its survival. In religious tales the rabbit came to symbolize man and his placement of hope and faith in Christ for protection. As a result, German folklore instructed children to prepare nests for rabvits to offer them shelter. At Christmas time the rabbit represents the renewal of this faith in others to provide guidance, protection, and kindness. Fish (or Christmas Carp) has long been festive fare for the holidays in Germany, and this tradition is observed in many central European homes to this day. Carefully prepared during the day tghis delicate fish was grandly presented to family and friends on Christmas often elaborately garnished with sprigs of holly, citrus slices, and berries. German glassblowers created many fish ornaments over the years, primarily as the symbolic Christian image originated by the ancient Greeks. The creation of the Christmas Carp ornament was in commemoration of the traditional German Christmas feast. Weather Frogs were traditional German weather forecasters! Many families in Germany, especially those living on farms, often used a large canning jar to create a frog's aquarium and equipped it with a small ladder. When the weather was about to improve, the frog could be seen climbing his ladder to enjoy the sunshine. When it was humid or was going to rain, he descended the ladder and jumped back into the water. The clever frog unknowingly provided German farmers a "foolproof" means of forecasting the weather! Birds are considered a universal symbol of happiness and joy and are regarded by many to be a necessity on the Christmas tree. Glassblowers would often carefully capture wild birds in autumn to keep in cages in their workshops and to shelter them during the winter months. the sound of the gas flame from the Bunsen burners used to make glass ornaments would prompt the birds to sing through the day, thereby entertaining the entire family. Because bird ornaments were difficult to create, few glassblowing families in Germany specialized in the making of these special pieces. Many collectors remember the lovely glass bird ornaments delicately perched on their grandmother's tree, which is one reason birds have continued to be among the most coveted of glass ornaments. Eben today, burds represent messengers of love and the harbingers of good things to come. |
| . |