Xmas Decorations |
Traditionally, olde world Christmas ornaments are hand painted, blown glass ornaments from Europe. Keeping with this tradition we offer the finest in hand blown glass Christmas ornaments made by Polish artists using century old methods. The glass balls are created by using traditional crafting techniques. Each ornament is blown by mouth and is hand painted. Polish artists have remained faithful to their traditional techniques. As a result, each piece is truly a work of art. The process in which ornaments are created is extremely complex. It starts in the blowing-hall. It is there that the blowers, using blowtorches, build the skeleton of the ornament from a sodium glass pipe. The pipe is heated with a properly adjusted flame, and once the glass can be formed, it is given its final shape in a mold. Additional parts of the ornament are glued to its skeleton, if needed. This makes the bulb exquisitely unique. After that the skeleton is covered from the inside with silver nitrate, to give the ornament a beautiful colour and to provide an exceptional glow to the decoration paint. The final phase of the process comprises strict quality control and packaging the ornament in a protective box. These glass Christmas ornaments detail and fine workmanship make them not only lovely to see and use, but very collectible as well. Every ornament is unique no two paintings are alike.
Polish Christmas tree decorations have a long historical tradition. The Christmas Tree came to Poland over a hundred years ago, and with it the custom of giving gifts on Christmas Eve. It was brought to Poland by German settlers who came to Poland in large numbers in the 18/19th centuries. Traditionally the trees are decorated with shiny apples, walnuts, beautifully wrapped chocolate shapes and many homemade decorations and candles. On the top of the tree is a star or a glittering top piece. In many homes, sparklers are hung on the branches of the trees giving it a magical air. Sometimes the trees are left standing until February 2, the feast day of St Mary of the Candle of Lightning.
In the second half of the 19th century the Polish markets offered artificial fruit made of glass, angels, stars and figures printed on paper, and harlequins, clowns, mushrooms and other objects. Around this time a veto on mass-produced German decorations was also issued allowing the Polish cottage industry to prosper. The campaign for folk art was supported by Polish nationals through the Towarzystwo Popierania Przemyslu Ludowego (Society for the Support of Folk Industry). The propagation of self-made ornaments was included in the school curriculum throughout the country. The only differences were in use of cheaper materials (tissue paper and straw) in the villages, in contrast to the availability of beads, sequins and costly glass balls in the city.
Polish Christmas ornaments have a reputation for quality, design and craftsmanship. Today there has been resurgence of the Polish ornament on the international market. Babushkas deals with several Polish Xmas decoration manufacturers and most of our glass ornaments are unique to us in the Australian retail marketplace.
You can extend your household's Christmas ornament collection to include hand-painted Christmas ornaments from Poland. You will have the pleasure to enjoy these handcrafted Christmas ornaments year after year, generation to generation. Collect hand blown glass ornaments to create wonderful family memories. Both the hand painted glass Christmas ornaments and the memories they evoke will be treasured for a lifetime.