Silver kugels are clear glass; their metallic appearance comes from mirrored interiors. She holds a B.A. The top wire and hanging loop on the new kugels arrives from the wholesaler already aged and rusted. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Vintage Glass Kugel Style Silver Spiked Ball Christmas Tree Ornament 2" (14) at the best online prices at eBay! In the early to mid-19th century, Christmas trees were traditionally adorned with simple items such as fruits, strung popcorn and cranberries, homemade paper ornaments, small gifts, and candles. Fig. Original Price CA$213.55 An article attributed to "Martha Stewart Editors" indicates when several writers and editors have contributed to an article over the years. So far, all the new kugels have only these caps so make a note of them. Take full advantage of our site features by enabling JavaScript. vintage GREEN German KUGEL Christmas ornament, berry cluster, Vintage Kugel Unsilvered Clear Glass Red Heart Ornament 3.5, RARE. You'll find the ornaments in antiques shops and online from about $40 to more than $1,000, depending on the size, shape, and availability of the shade. Kugel ornaments became popular in the United States in the late 19th century, when German immigrants brought them over. 6 (New) Kugel Top of neck, cap removed. Rose-colored kugels in pink lustreware goblets and tumblers are a cheerful centerpiece (secure pieces with utility wax). Original Price 57.49 Some of the technologies we use are necessary for critical functions like security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and to make the site work correctly for browsing and transactions. They are typically made of clear or colored glass and often have a design etched into them. Original Price 332.60 During the 1940s and 50s, West Germany attempted to recapture the market using the old German ornament molds. Old world Christmas Vintage NOS Clip on Love Bird Ornament, Art Deco Czechoslovakian Glass Ornamental Pulls circa 1920s', Vintage Hand Blown Glass Crown Ornament From Poland 1990's With Glittery Detail, Italian Murano Glass Ornament Holder or Wedding Cake Topper Etc. 17 Kugel Christmas Tree Ornaments - Beautiful! The hollow glass kugels were often reflective, especially silver ones. Set where you live, what language you speak and the currency you use. Amethyst kugels are found in about 1/100 pieces. New kugels are cut off the iron substantially above the surface of the ornament. But the ornaments also brought beauty and bright bursts of color into the home, just as they do today. The Cap is also raised. Original Price CA$19.89 !!! Original Price 74.74 Those partners may have their own information theyve collected about you. Learn more in our Privacy Policy, Help Centre, and Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy. Our site uses cookies, which helps us to improve your experience, to analyze website usage, and for marketing purposes. House ornaments represent family safety and protection. . The outside colors are red, cobalt, blue, green, silver, gold and amethyst. The most common kugels are simple spheres, while bunches of grapes are also easily found on the secondary market. 4 (Old) Figural Kugel; brass cap virtually flush with surface of ornament. They are experts in their fields who research, create, and test the best ways to help readers design the life they want. The new brass caps have a patina and the new top wire and hanging loops are rusted. ACRN photo. The new brass caps also have an "antique" patina. Note that brass cap is raised about 1/4 above surface of ornament. Nowadays, color is paramount in determining kugels' desirability and value. Collectors used this term to describe any early thick glass ornament with a decorative cap. I prefer the real vintage ornaments. The Great Restoration Debate: Should You Rebind or Recover Your Collectible Books? Great! Tassel Tidings Glass Santa Ornament Lenox. According to family folklore, those ornaments hung on those relatives first Christmas tree in 1870. (15% off), Sale Price CA$605.07 Kugels are the earliest form of glass Christmas decorations. These early witch balls were unsilvered and sometimes served a dual purpose as fishing floats in maritime areas. There was a problem subscribing you to this newsletter. These are shown in Fig. Embossed brass caps with rings were added to globes of various sizes in the 1840s, giving birth to the first Christmas tree ornaments, known as kugels (the word means "balls" in German). What was the allure of 19th-century kugels? Fig. Some kugel ornaments are quite old and can be considered vintage or antique. VTG Hand Blown Christmas Ornament: "Hide the Pickle" German Christmas Tradition (#325604747077) p***k (1061) - Feedback left by . vintage BLUE German KUGEL Christmas ornament, berry cluster. Angel ornaments are placed in the home to seek Gods guidance. W 3.25 in. (10% off), Sale Price CA$52.68 (26% off), Sale Price CA$63.21 Turning off personalised advertising opts you out of these sales. Money in the Middle: Collectible Monopoly Games. Original Price 105.67 Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Lot of 5 Large Mercury Glass German Kugel Style Christmas Ornament Silver at the best online prices at eBay! However, some key indicators that a kugel may be an antique include its age, provenance, condition, and rarity. Free shipping for many products! Vintage Very Rare Red Glass Round Original Old German Christmas Kugel / Ornament No reviews $27500 FREE delivery Apr 20 - May 2 Or fastest delivery Mar 28 - 30 Only 1 left in stock - order soon. A silver kugel which is clear glass with only the silver lining showing through is the most common. CA$184.37, CA$249.15 The larger-sized kugels were often too heavy for Christmas trees, so people hung them from ceilings or doorways instead. What is known as kugels are the ancestors of the later Christmas glass ornaments.Kugel is the German word for sphere or ball.In Germany kugels are usually called Biedermeierkugeln what refers to their time of origin, namely the Biedermeier period (about 1830). We pass them back and forth between families each year (despite an unfortunate accident my brother-in-law had with it a couple of years agothank goodness for our local antique restorer!). Original Price 68.99 Eventually, in the 1850s when silvered glass came into vogue, these same witch balls were manufactured with a silver lining making them reflective. Caps are fastened to the ornament with a piece of wire with spread out legs. Atlanta, Rare Antique German Glass Candle Lantern Christmas Ornament, 1900s Kugels ornaments, which are one of the earliest forms of glass Christmas decorations, were among the earliest. 1840-1900 and are thick heavy glass, with the thin-walled glass ornaments made after 1918. Please encourage others to contribute by sharing this post. Kugels store well with temperature and humidity fluctuations, so attics are generally safe havens for them in the off-season. The French called these silvered balls Boules Panoramic. IF REAL: It will bestamped with the words Shiny Brite and Made in U.S.A. or Some will have a cardboard cap with a string instead of a hook. You've already signed up for some newsletters, but you haven't confirmed your address. 2003 Waterford Crystal 9 Ladies Dancing Holiday Ornament. The ornaments were painted completely on the inside and the stripes or patterns were painted on the outside. Has brass cap virtually flush with surface of ornament. The Benefits Of Lime For Ornamental Plants, Exploring The Bavarian Stitch: A Guide To Crocheting Beautiful Projects. Free shipping for many products! Seahorse Mark. 12 3/8 Signed Modern Swedish Tower Art Glass Candlestick / Candleholder Designed by Bertil Vallien for Kosta Boda Displaying a Thick, Heavy Clear Column Shape w/ Crinkly-Wavy Surface & Internal Air Bubbles to give the Illusion of Frozen Ice! KUGEL German Ornament - Rare Antique Lantern Style Ribbed Glass Pale Green - Made in Germany - 1900's ElaineIsabella (678) $180.00 Antique Christmas Tree Ornament Glass Grapes TheReclamationSaints (1,112) $29.95 Egg Shaped Silver Kugel, German Blown Glass, Oval Christmas Ornament, with Embossed Cap, Mercury Glass Antique Holiday Decor, 2.25 Inches Also be alert for old caps on the new kugels. 10 (New) Kugels come from the importer with a removable "Made in India" paper or cardboard label. The most common hues are silver, then gold, green, and cobalt. vintage blue german kugel christmas ornaments, berry cluster, Vintage Mercury Crackle Glass Kugel Style Pink Ball 4" Christmas Ornament, VINTAGE LOT OF 5 KUGEL GERMAN GLASS BLUE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS VG++, RARE. Kugels look radiant as a centerpiece, dangling from a chandelier like jewels, and, of course, dotting the tree. Turning off the personalized advertising setting wont stop you from seeing Etsy ads or impact Etsy's own personalization technologies, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive. This type of data sharing may be considered a sale of information under California privacy laws. If youre going to collect kugels, make sure you dont get anything that breaks apart. Read our Cookie Policy. The blown, molded, figural glass ornaments that we are familiar with today evolved from the tradition of blowing kugels. ACRN photo, Fig. Some of the technologies we use are necessary for critical functions like security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and to make the site work correctly for browsing and transactions. CA$79.01, CA$106.78 To enable personalized advertising (like interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. Circular hanging loops are usually fastened to the wire on the cap. Brass caps in new kugels are raised up above the surface of the ornament; brass caps on old are nearly flush with the surface. Top Rated Seller Top Rated Seller. Rare 13+ Signed Original Vintage 1960s Modern Midcentury Hand-Blown/Handmade Italian Art Glass Vase Created by Nason Moretti of Murano, Italy Displaying a Three-Sided Bottle Shape Rendered in Uranium Yellow & Corroso Surface Texture! A vintage ornament can be identified by the wear and tear on its surface, or by the presence of patina. Original Price CA$69.89 House ornaments can be used as a form of family protection and shelter. Certain colors, such as orange, purple and pink, are hard to find. The raised glass surrounding the hole is technically called a pike or spear but most collectors just say "neck" which is the term we'll use. How do you care for your glass kugels? Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Vtg Kugel Style Silver Mercury Dimpled Antiqued Glass Ball 4"Christmas Ornament at the best online prices at eBay! If hanging an ornament from high branches, have one Kugel Knig climb on a stool and a second Kugel Knig hand the ornament up. The Martha Stewart team aims to teach and inspire readers daily with tested-until-perfected recipes, creative DIY projects, and elevated home and entertaining ideas. They were hand-blown in Germany in1848 and made of thick glass, colored or clear, and sometimes decorated with paint. Holiday trees in 1840 were adorned with apples, gilded and natural fruits and nuts, cookies, popcorn and cranberries, as well as homemade paper items, candles, cornucopias, and presents. A more recent German word for Christmas tree ball is Christbaumkugel. The German plural of Kugel is Kugeln, also capitalized. Turning off personalized advertising opts you out of these sales. Learn more in our Privacy Policy., Help Center, and Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy. Most are blown into a apple wood mold to retain shape and consistency. . Find out more in our Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy. The kugel, German for ball or sphere, was born. !!! Free shipping for many products! All of these shapes, from apples to pears to clusters of berries or grapes, were small and light enough to nestle within the branches of a Christmas tree. Lastly, kugels that are in excellent condition, or are particularly rare, are also more likely to be considered antiques. 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. $145: . The Kugels were too heavy to hang on tree branches so they were suspended from the ceiling. 5 (Old) Kugel showing brass cap virtually flush with surface of ornament Photo courtesy Collector Books, PO Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002; Christmas Collectibles, M & K. Whitmyer, 1987. Unravelling The Difference Between Knitting And Crochet: Comparing Rows And Skills, Crocheting With A Paralyzed Hand: A Comprehensive Guide To Enjoying A Creative Activity Despite A Disability, A Guide To Crocheting Cozy Baby Leg Warmers: Learn How To Keep Your Little One Warm And Comfortable. A Reproduction of Kugel: Top of the neck is raised and has a rough cut. They were so heavy that they were suspended from the ceiling rather than hanging on the tree. Amethyst ornaments, though exquisite in natural light, were rejected by Victorians, who thought the hue appeared muddy on the tree. Use the guidelines above for kugels only. Kugel production expanded to include fruit shapes, ribbed balls, teardrops and egg-shaped glass ornaments. KUGEL German Ornament - Rare Antique Lantern Style Ribbed Glass Pale Green - Made in Germany - 1900's ElaineIsabella (693) $180.00 10 Count Vintage Crackle Glass Christmas Ornament Kugel Style Heavy MonarcaAzulVintage (5) $120.97 Vintage Smokey Pink Kugel Style Tear Drop Ornament FleaMarketFloozie (9,589) $18.00 The blown, molded, figural glass ornaments that we are familiar with today evolved from the tradition of blowing kugels. Cobalt made a deep blue, while iron produced a shamrock green shade. Kugels have a luster, weight and aged patina that many old Christmas ornaments just cant match. While white gloves are not needed with the glass, make sure your Kugel Knig carries each ornament with two hands. These were manufactured in India within the last 40 years. Want to know more? 12 Signed Original Vintage Modern Clear Art Glass Vase Designed by American Fashion Icon Calvin Klein & Made by Polish Glass Company Displaying a Tall Tapering Minimalist Form w/ Abstract Composition of Long Thin Lines Randomly Cut into the Surface! Pre-Owned. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Vintage cobalt Cracked/Crackle Glass Kugel Ornament Germany 3'' (3 piece ) (a) at the best online prices at eBay! Free International Shipping. Set where you live, what language you speak, and the currency you use. 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. CA$52.68, CA$71.18 (26% off), Sale Price CA$79.01 Original Price CA$249.15 Brass Cap Kugels. A wire is inserted into the brass cap to make the loop for hanging. Now I will know what to look for when I grab them at Estate Sales and hopefully you will too. Today, kugel ornaments are still made of glass, but they can also be made of plastic or metal. Kugel ornaments can be found in many German Christmas markets. Canada | English (UK) | $ (CAD), remembering account, browser, and regional preferences, remembering privacy and security settings, personalised search, content, and recommendations, helping sellers understand their audience, showing relevant, targeted ads on and off Etsy. The predecessors of these beloved Victorian Christmas ornaments began in an unsilvered form that were hung in windows to ward off evil spirits or witches, a tradition dating back to the 17th century in England and spreading to the colonies in America in the 18th century. Antique German Kugel Christmas Ornaments Red Glass Ball Beehive Cap Mercury"F469. 89.82, 105.67 "Kugel" has been integrated into other German words, such as "Kanonenkugel" (cannonball) and "Kegelkugel" (bowl). Some artists free blow their kugel designs, thus ending up in an irregular shape. RARE. . CA$63.21, CA$85.42 Your WorthPoint account has been suspended. I love exploring all kinds of craft, dreaming them up, starting them and hopefully finishing them. Glass kugel production and sales soon expanded throughout Europe and America. The Kugels were too heavy to hang on tree branches so they were suspended from the ceiling. The latter are fastened to pieces of wire and secured to each muntin with utility wax. Since kugels had to be bought in a store, they signified a bit of prosperity for the tree owner. Kugel ornaments are considered the first Christmas tree ornaments. There is no definitive answer, as there are a number of factors to consider when determining whether or not a kugel is an antique. Pre-Owned. !!! Create A Unique Crochet Hat Learn How To Personalize It! Etsys 100% renewable electricity commitment includes the electricity used by the data centres that host Etsy.com, the Sell on Etsy app, and the Etsy app, as well as the electricity that powers Etsys global offices and employees working remotely from home in the US. (26% off), Sale Price CA$17.90 Sale Price 59.79 #2, antique KUGEL GLASS GRAPE CLUSTER CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT silver, RARE. While glassblowers used mercury for reflective coatings like mirrors during this time, they used lead or tin for the first kugels. All rights reserved. The major difference between new and old is the glass around the hole in the top of the ornament. A smooth or embossed brass cap fit easily over the hole with a brass, pronged wire holding the cap against the ornament. To enable personalized advertising (like interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. Large 15 Signed Original Modern Italian Hand-Blown / Handmade Italian Art Glass Bowl Created by CrystalClear of Italy that Displays a Wavy Free-Form Shape Internally Decorated w/ a Cloud-Like White Colorfield & Pearlized Opalescent Luster Surface! His initial investment of $25 turned into sales of at least $25 million worth of Kugels over the next several years.Kugels Today. By the 1840s, German glassblowers started producing blown glass balls called kugels. These were first made in Germany by glass crafters during the Biedermeier period around 1830, according to an Antique Trader article by Karen Knapstein. Kugel Ornaments (A German word that means "ball") They were hand-blown in Germany in 1848 and made of thick glass, colored or clear, and sometimes decorated with paint. 31 Antique German Mercury Glass Christmas Tree Ornaments Kugel Santa Birds Pipe H 5 in. Opens in a new window or tab. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for RARE. vintage BLUE German KUGEL Christmas ornament, berry cluster, Vintage Christmas Ornament Glass KUGEL Style TEAR DROP Green Ribbed, Vintage KUGEL Style Ribbed Teardrop Christmas Ornaments Mercury Multicolor LOT 7, Vtg Kugel Style Purple Mercury Crackle Glass Ball 4 Christmas Ornament HEAVY, Vintage Glass Christmas Ornaments Germany Korea USA Mica Kugel 3-5", 4 Pc Vintage 1.5'' Red Glass Original Kugel/Christmas Ornament,Germany, 5 Pc Vintage 1.5'' Green Glass Original Heavy Kugel/Christmas Ornament, Germany, Vintage 6 '' Red Glass Fine Heavy Kugel Christmas/Ornament,Germany, Vintage Christmas Ornaments Glass Kugel Cut Purple Glass 4, Antique 4.75" Green Kugel Christmas Ornament CO56, Vtg Mercury Glass GRAPE CLUSTER Silver German KUGEL Christmas Ornament Leaves, Hutschenreuther Kugel Christmas Ball Ornament 1994 Germany Weihnachts VTG Bears, Vintage German Kugel 4.25 Silver Round Christmas Ornament Original Collectible, 1 Antique KUGEL & 8 KUGEL Style HEAVY GLASS ORNAMENTS CRACKLED MERCURY GLASS, Vintage Shiny Red Glass Christmas Ornaments Kugel Style Set Of 3, 5 Pc Vintage 2'' Silver Glass Original Heavy Kugel/Christmas Ornament, Germany, Vintage Heavy Glass Kugel Style Gold Crackle Round Ornament, Set Of 12 Antique Kugel Glass Tree Ornaments, Vintage 3 White Silver Mercury Glass Christmas Ornament European Kugel Style, Antique Kugel Ornaments Green Glass Ball Mercury Brass Cap Christmas X-Mass "419, Vintage Glass Kugel Style Silver Teardrop Christmas Tree Ornament 2", Antique German Kugel Ornaments Green Glass Ball Mercury Brass Cap Christmas"F540, Vintage Peacock Glass Christmas Ornament 6" LARGE kugel ball blue teal Germany, 5 Vintage German 1.5" Gold Crackle Thick Glass Kugel ? The silvery, shining glass of a Victorian kugel ornament is a mirror onto the past. 2023 Searching For Treasures, How To Sell On Ebay And The Things You Will Need, Fantasia from Poland vintage christmas ornament, Made in U.S.A. vintage christmas ornament, Williamsport, PA Ross Club, Stereoview Cards Antique 3D Photos from the late 1800s to early 1900s. The history of the glass kugel is tied to the history of Christmas tree ornamentation. Set of Two Apothecary Jars. Finally, collectors clamor over the rarest shapes, such as artichokes and berries. Turning off personalized advertising opts you out of these sales. Learn more in our Privacy Policy., Help Center, and Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy. (Pale blue and turquoise tones are less abundant.) 3 Small Antique German Kugel Ornaments Glass Ball Mercury Brass Cap Christmas. Friendship Balls (4 inch) Iridized Effects, Spirit Tree Witch Balls (6 inch) Embossed Leaf, Witch Balls (4 inch) Silver Nitrate Effects, The "Ties That Bind" Spirit Ball (4 Inch), Witch Balls (6 inch) Silver Nitrate Effects, Witch Balls XXL, Specialized Effects (10 Inch). Georgia 30328 | 877.481.5750, Profits, Not Projects: The Beauty of Broken Electronics. Silver kugels were mostly made with clear glass with a mirrored interior. 21.89, 27.37 9 (New) Close up of new brass caps. These ornaments were not sold in America until 1880. In 1848, the first glass ornament, a kugel, appeared in Germany. They were traditionally made of blown glass and often had a star or flower design. Free shipping for many products! Sale Price 24.30 The joy is in the doing. Set of Large 12" Glass Grape Kugel Christmas Ornaments While the brass embossed caps are different on the newer pieces, unscrupulous dealers have been known to switch caps between old and new pieces. Fig. Shiny Briteis another very popular Glass ornament made in the 1940s- 1960sby Max Eckardt. A twist on the glass spheres, these German glass ornaments were shaped into various forms using molds: flowers, animals, fruits, Santas, instruments and angels were all popular subjects. VINTAGE BLUE COLOR KUGEL ORIGINAL BRASS CAP & RING GERMAN CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT. F. W. Woolworth is given credit for bringing Kugels to America in the 1880s. Others are more modern and would not be considered vintage or antique. (20% off), Sale Price 51.05 Old kugels (with the exception of very early pieces) were cut off the blowing iron virtually flush with the surrounding surface. Christmas Ornaments 1.5", Vintage Kugel Set of 8 Clear Etched Glass Christmas Ornaments Different Shapes, Set of 3 Vintage Kugel Mercury Glass Hearts, 35 Antique German Mercury Glass Christmas Ornaments Kugel Santa Birds, Ornaments,Christmas,Feather Tree Ornaments,Blown Glass,Vintage,Japan,Kugel Style, Antique Japan Glass Christmas Ornament Red Feather Tree Strawberry 1930's, Lot of 4 Vintage Kugel ? Red Hanging Ribbon. In 1848, the first glass ornament, a kugel, appeared in Germany. I have come across a ton of vintage glass ornaments lately. Kugels range in shape and styles, according to the artist that made them and the season they are displayed. Disqus. Learn from other collectors before you invest in an expensive kugel. How can you tell what is valuable and what is a reproduction? To enable personalised advertising (like interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. European Art glass balls for holiday decoration are still commonly referred to in Austria and Germany as Kugels. ACRN photo, Fig. vintage GOLD German KUGEL Christmas ornament, berry cluster, Vintage Parrot Green Glass Heavy German Kugel Christmas Ornament 5 Leaves Cap 6", Vintage Green Original Round Glass 4.25'' Kugel/Christmas Ornament,Germany, Vintage Sea Green Original Round Glass 5'' Kugel/Christmas Ornament,Germany, Vintage Kugel 3" Parrot Green Round Christmas Ornament Germany 5 Leaves Bras Cap, RARE. Smaller ones were used for tree decorations. "Kugel" is the name of heavy glass Christmas ornaments that were made in Germany from as early as 1840 to the early 1900s. in Visual Art from Brown University and lives in Boston. Most are blown into a apple wood mold to retain shape and consistency. CAUTION: Do not confuse kugels, which were made ca.