Glassblowing tradition 1445

Our glass Christmas ornaments are handcrafted in Germany using traditional techniques and methods that have been passed down for more than 150 years.
The story of Mr. Willi Greiner-Mai, the current owner, is in many ways the story of the art of glassblowing in the Thuringian Forest. All of his ancestors were master glassmakers, and the family lineage can be traced back without interruption to the year 1425. Since the invention of the glass Christmas bauble (first officially documented in 1848), the family has been creating these precious glass treasures for Christmas in the 6th generation, all year round for what is undoubtedly the most wonderful celebration of the year.

Production:
The glassblower first heats simple, transparent glass tubes to approximately 1300°C, then continuously rotates and blows them into baubles, bells, and other shapes. It is the skill of the glassblower that ensures every piece has the same size and shape. When figurines are created, historic ceramic molds are used—most of them dating from the "Golden Years" between 1870 and 1920 and preserved within the family collection. To ensure that the ornaments later sparkle brilliantly in their beautiful colors, the glass pieces are hand-silvered on the inside, a process that requires great experience and craftsmanship to achieve an even reflective finish. After drying, the baubles and ornaments, still attached to their glass stems, are hand-dipped into the desired color and then placed upside down to dry. Afterwards, skilled and dedicated female artisans decorate the figurines, baubles, and other ornaments by hand, transforming each piece into a unique work of art. They carefully apply high-quality paints (many mixed according to old family recipes) and then add premium glitter. A Santa Claus ornament, for example, may pass through a painter's hands up to ten times before it finally shines and sparkles on a Christmas tree. Finally, the glass stems are cut off by hand, metal caps are attached, and every single ornament is carefully packed in specially designed boxes to ensure safe delivery, bringing the magic of Christmas to customers around the world.