The memory of Christmases past
There is nothing more sentimental to me than getting out my Christmas decorations. Unwrapping each bauble for the tree invokes a memory of times past and the people who gave them to me.
My favorites, of course, are the crude creations made by my son when he was little. I have a glass raccoon given to me by my friend Mary as a joke when there were raccoon vigils going on in Pacific Grove years ago as a protest to the large extermination of them by the city. I also have an ornament made by a close childhood friend who has since passed away.
As an antiques dealer I have my favorite hard to find antique ornaments. Such as this early 1900's blown glass doll's head.
I have found many wonderful old ornaments at our antique mall over the years. My favorite finds at the mall include Victorian candy cones, a fifties Santa face with rabbit fur for a beard, a handblown glass teapot and sugar bowl, an old German kugel and a fifties blown glass beaded motorcycle.
Christmas tree ornaments were popular as early as the 1500's. Theses were blown glass bead garlands and tin figures. The more modern spherical bulbs or baubles started in the late 1800's with the thick handblown glass German kugels. Queen Victoria popularized the German tradition of decorating a tree with a variety of glass ornaments of her beloved Prince Albert's German origins. Glass ornaments from the 1800's are exceedingly rare. The only ones that still surface from that era are the sturdy glass kugels and the paper Dresdens and candy cones.
Dresdens are very popular still and fairly easy to collect. They were the first paper ornaments made with children in mind who have a tendency to break them. We have had them in the mall over the years.
Other rare ornaments include ones made of wax. Nuremburg angel wax tree toppers are popular and I have seen a wax baby Jesus in a hollowed out eggshell before. Many don't survive because of their tendency to melt near the warm tree lights and their fragility.
I hope when you pull out your ornaments to decorate your tree this year you will have wonderful memories of your Christmases past.
Happy Holidays
My favorites, of course, are the crude creations made by my son when he was little. I have a glass raccoon given to me by my friend Mary as a joke when there were raccoon vigils going on in Pacific Grove years ago as a protest to the large extermination of them by the city. I also have an ornament made by a close childhood friend who has since passed away.
As an antiques dealer I have my favorite hard to find antique ornaments. Such as this early 1900's blown glass doll's head.
I have found many wonderful old ornaments at our antique mall over the years. My favorite finds at the mall include Victorian candy cones, a fifties Santa face with rabbit fur for a beard, a handblown glass teapot and sugar bowl, an old German kugel and a fifties blown glass beaded motorcycle.
Christmas tree ornaments were popular as early as the 1500's. Theses were blown glass bead garlands and tin figures. The more modern spherical bulbs or baubles started in the late 1800's with the thick handblown glass German kugels. Queen Victoria popularized the German tradition of decorating a tree with a variety of glass ornaments of her beloved Prince Albert's German origins. Glass ornaments from the 1800's are exceedingly rare. The only ones that still surface from that era are the sturdy glass kugels and the paper Dresdens and candy cones.
Dresdens are very popular still and fairly easy to collect. They were the first paper ornaments made with children in mind who have a tendency to break them. We have had them in the mall over the years.
Other rare ornaments include ones made of wax. Nuremburg angel wax tree toppers are popular and I have seen a wax baby Jesus in a hollowed out eggshell before. Many don't survive because of their tendency to melt near the warm tree lights and their fragility.
I hope when you pull out your ornaments to decorate your tree this year you will have wonderful memories of your Christmases past.
Happy Holidays
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