What Christmas ornaments are valuable?
11 Vintage Christmas Decorations That Might Be Worth Some Cash
- Putz Houses. eBay. Putz houses were popular starting in 18th-century Europe.
- Jingle Bells. eBay. Jingle bells are tiny bells that were made for crafts or gift decorations.
- Mica snow. eBay.
- Ornament Hangers. eBay.
- Santa Claus Figurines. eBay.
- Shiny Brites. eBay.
What are the most valuable vintage Christmas ornaments?
One of the most sought after Christmas ornaments is probably what is known among collectors as the “Kugel”, which is basically the very first iteration (as early as 1830) of the glass ball as we know it today. Based on their shape and material, “Kugel” can be worth in excess of 1,000 apiece.
What are the most collectible Christmas ornaments?
Dresden paper ornaments, which usually feature an animal shape like a peacock, deer, or bird in flight, are some of the most valuable antique Christmas ornaments on the market. Because these very old German ornaments are difficult to find in good condition, they often sell for hundreds of dollars.
Are Christopher Radko ornaments worth anything?
For one thing, your grandma probably couldn’t afford it: Over the years, Radko ornaments sold for an average of $50 each, but the rare ones now go for much more. His collectors are a passionate bunch, trading and buying and selling and competing to hang the most ornaments on one tree.
How do I identify old Christmas ornaments?
The Look of a Vintage Ornament “Old ornaments are usually not as perfectly shiny,” says Stark. The shapes can be a telling factor, too. “If they are mouth blown, they aren’t always perfectly shaped,” she says. “They should also have a pontil mark (usually on the bottom) where the glass was broken off the blow pipe.”
Are Radko ornaments marked?
All authentic Christopher Radko ornaments are marked with the Radko charm and trademark gold Radko crown at the end of the manufacturing process. When you shop Christopher Radko at Distinctive-Decor.com, your satisfaction is guaranteed.
Are all Shiny Brite ornaments marked?
Most of the Shiny Brite ones I have all have the scalloped metal tops with the vertical ridges and are marked Shiny Brite made in USA. I have at least one that I am sure that is Shiny Brite which has the same type of top but without the vertical ridges and only says Made in USA.
What is a kugel Christmas ornament?
“Kugel” is the name of heavy glass Christmas ornaments that were made in Germany from as early as 1840 to the early 1900s. Although the word kugel means “round ball” in German, original kugels were also made in the shape of grapes, apples, pears, pine cones, berries, tear drops and balls with melon-style ribs.
What are old Christmas ornaments made of?
Christmas ornaments, baubles, “christmas bulbs” or “Christmas bubbles” are decoration items, usually to decorate Christmas trees. These decorations have been made using the following techniques: weaved, blown (glass or plastic), molded (ceramic or metal) or carved from wood or expanded polystyrene.
How old are Shiny Brite ornaments?
First made in Germany in the late 1930s, Shiny Brites were created by ornament maker Max Eckardt, who had the idea to coat glass ornaments with silver nitrate to make them stay shiny longer than any other ornaments on the market.
Did Christopher Radko buy Shiny Brite?
Radko bought the Shiny-Brite name in the late ’90s and started selling replicas of the old Shiny-Brite glass ornaments in 2001. Even the Shiny-Brite boxes are the same.
Did Shiny Brite make plastic ornaments?
Following the war, Shiny Brite became the largest ornament company in the world. They were popular throughout the 1940’s and 1950’s with their heyday occurring in the late 1950’s. They stopped selling as well in the 1960’s (it is said the company started making plastic ornaments), and weren’t made at all by the 1970’s.
Were Shiny Brite ornaments made in Poland?
Shiny Brite ornaments were created by American businessman Max Eckardt in 1937. Before World War II, almost all of the glass ornaments on American Christmas trees were imported from Germany.
How do you date a Shiny Brite ornament?
Dating of the ornaments is often facilitated by studying the hook. The first Shiny Brite ornaments had the traditional metal cap and loop, with the hook attached to the loop, from which the ornament was hung from the tree. The first wartime ornaments were made from glass, but were not silvered on the inside.
What year were Shiny Brite ornaments made?
1937
When did Shiny Brite go out of business?
1962
Where are Christopher Radko ornaments made?
Christopher Radko Christmas tree ornaments are world-renown for their beauty, craftsmanship and their collectibility. Each Christopher Radko ornament is made by hand in a week-long process throughout Radko’s three factories based in Poland, Germany and Italy.
What are Unsilvered ornaments?
From 1939 through 1941 the ornaments were shiny, thanks to being coated on their interior with a silver nitrate solution. These shiny glass balls were often decorated with painted stripes and topped with a metal cap embossed with “Made in the US of A”.
How do you clean Christmas ornaments?
For ordinary glass ornaments, spray regular glass cleaner onto a soft cloth and wipe gently. To clean porcelain or crystal ornaments, use a feather duster, brushing across the surface in a downward motion. Don’t handle crystal decorations unless you wear gloves.
How do you store old Christmas ornaments?
Acid-free tissue paper is perfect for storing all ornaments because it’s free of chemicals and dyes, which can damage delicate pieces. Acid-free tissue sheets, containerstore.com.
How do you preserve old Christmas ornaments?
Wrap them in acid-free tissue paper ($13.60 for 200 sheets, amazon.com), and place ornaments that are similar in size and weight together in metal or wooden boxes, since plastic traps moisture (IKEA has good selections of both).
How do you protect glass Christmas ornaments?
Egg cartons are great for smaller glass balls. I save packing peanuts and smaller, sturdy boxes to use for breakable ornaments. Shredded paper is great for cushioning delicate ornaments.
How do you display fragile ornaments?
25 Ways to Use Ornaments Without a Tree
- Use them in lieu of place cards.
- They are a fabulous addition to a table centerpiece.
- Add them in place of candles.
- Fill a vase.
- Make a wreath.
- Use a frame.
- String ornaments up in a window.
- Display in an old window frame.
Are vintage ornaments safe?
Tinsel, ornaments, and lights can all be very hazardous to pets. Metallic and glass ornaments can cause cuts and bleeding. If they’re ingested, these items can cause even more severe internal damage, such as gastrointestinal obstruction, which is likely to require surgery.
How do you store blown glass ornaments?
Storage: While plastic is typically not advised for storage of precious blown glass ornaments, for moisture reasons, I use Snapware to store all of my ornaments.