The boxed sets of rounds and shapes, finials, garland, icicles, and more will bring your childhood tree to your home today. We use the manufacturer measurements when available. Early pre war ornaments often had large sections of opaque silver and metallic color. See more ideas about shiny brite ornaments, ornaments and christmas ornaments.
When i was a kid, my parents always had a hodge podge of different antique decorations for the holidays. I heart shiny brite vintage ornaments home facebook. Shiny brite christmas ornaments the story 1 after world war i, the manufacture and purchase of german glass christmas ornaments resumed although it was apparent in the 1930s that another war was looming. Shiny brite also produced numerous plastic christmas items. Inexpensive colorful glass christmas ornaments have been an important part of american christmas tree decorating since the 1880s, when retailer frank w. I know that perhaps over the years these ornaments have been mixed up by their previous. Eckhardt had been importing handblown glass balls from germany since around 1907, but had the foresight to anticipate a. Shiny brite christmas tree ornaments box, 19441946 the.
See more ideas about vintage christmas ornaments, vintage christmas and retro christmas. Collecting shiny brite ornaments the cavender diary. Shiny brite holiday splendor christopher radko ornaments. These handblown glass ornaments were first produced in germany in the mid19th century, but in the midst of world war ii, european imports. Society, in its effort to compile the history of the township, was made aware of the ornament production in emigsville in the 1960s.
Holiday splendor 1 count shiny brite night light red. Early pre war ornaments often had large sections of opaque silver and metallic colour. By 1940 corning was making about 300,000 ornaments a day, compared with the perhaps 600 for a skilled german glassblower, and sending them to other companies for decoration. Christopher radko decorated rounds w reflectors shiny brite ornament halloween. In 1937 max eckhardt established shiny brite ornaments, working with the corning glass company to mass produce glass christmas ornaments. The fact that shinybrite ornaments were an americanmade product was stressed as a selling point during world war ii. Most of my vintage ornaments are the shiny brite brand and they and their boxes are very valuable now. The history behind those vintage shiny brite christmas ornaments. The shiny brite story of max eckardt and sons is chronicled along with rival. Shiny brite ornaments were created by american businessman max eckardt in 1937. I did try to email you about an ornament i have that no one seems to be able to identify in the groups im in on facebook for vintage shiny brites.
The christmas tree book the history of the christmas tree. There are many more ornaments than i could ever photograph and show you. When americans stopped importing handblown christmas ornaments from germany during world war ii, an enterprising importer of german goods named max eckardt convinced the corning glass company to mass produce machineblown bulbs. The story behind vintage shiny brite christmas ornaments. Just before wwii, and in anticipation of the growing scarcity of german ornaments, an american company began manufacturing its own versions of these. See more ideas about vintage christmas ornaments, vintage. Before world war ii, almost all of the glass ornaments on american christmas trees were imported from germany. Christmas ornaments, baubles, christmas bulbs or christmas bubbles or christmas ball balls are decorations usually made of blown glass, metal, wood, blown plastics, expanded polystyrene or ceramics that are used to festoon a christmas tree.
Almost every home in america had shiny brite ornaments of their tree from the 1940s1950s. Interestingly, the history of the shiny brite ornament was directly. Holiday splendor 1 count shiny brite night light white. After world war i, the manufacture and purchase of. Starting in the early 1900s all the way up to the late 1970s. These ornaments are very intricately painted and have very specific designs where you can tell its a shiny brite. Ive always admired them, but now my curiosity is officially piqued. There are some in the shiny brite box that actually say shiny brite on the ornament. Its safe to say that maxs plan proved to be worth it since adolf hitler and the british blockade would ultimately stop the import. Holiday splendor 1 count shiny brite night light green. I cant think of a more lovely ornament than a round, patinad, fragile, shiny brite.
Initially shiny brite ornaments were lacquered by machine on. Shiny christmas ornaments, vintage shiny brite christmas. Shiny christmas ornaments, shiny brite christmas ornaments, vintage shiny brite christmas ornaments are designed for high demand commercial decorating applications. Vintage white christmas tree with shinybrite ornaments. Antique ornaments christmas ornaments from the 50s. In 1955, thor, a chicago washing machine manufacturer, purchased the company, which eventually produced about 75 percent of the ornaments sold worldwide.
Shiny brite was actually the trade name of the ornaments, but the name has been confused over the years as the style name of the ornaments. The first glass ornaments were made in germany in the 1800s. Vintage shiny brite original box with 12 matte gold ball ornaments 2 sizes. Eckardts company decorated and sold many of these bulbs under the name shiny brite a brand that would remain one of americans favorites into the 1950s. The first shinybrite ornaments had the traditional metal cap and loop, with the hook attached to the loop, from which the ornament was hung from the tree. I did a board search and couldnt find any specifics. Add shiny brite ornaments to your mantel anywhere you have a little blank space, just add an ornament. Eckardt had been importing hand blown glass balls from germany since around 1907, but had the foresight to anticipate a disruption in his supply from the upcoming war. I bought a box of old shiny brite ornaments and some other glass orn. Im thrilled to be sharing it as part of the home for christmas. The largest customer was max eckhardt who by now had established an allamerican company known as shiny brite.
The history behind those vintage shiny brite christmas. Book depository books with free delivery worldwide. I tried a moist paper towel on a broken piece and it took off the snow and the paint. Collecting vintage christmas ornaments always a collector. Please tell us what you can about shiny brite and the ornament. Shiny brites were proudly made in the usa a selling point during wwii as previous to this many glass ornaments were imported from germany. In 1926, eckhart and his brother opened a toy and ornament factory in their birthplace of. For all of these reasons, i would not use the cap as an identifier for a shiny brite.
Source and thats probably because there were shiny brites in many colors, shapes, and sizes. Dating of the ornaments is often facilitated by studying the hook. The shiny brite company produced the most popular christmas tree ornaments in the united states throughout the 1940s and 1950s. Eckardt was born in 1890 in oberlind, which was 20 miles away from the glass ornament. The shiny brite company produced the most popular christmas tree ornaments in the united states throughout the 1940s and 50s. Shiny brite originated with a german toymaker named max eckardt. History of christmas ornaments global history blog. In 1926, he opened his first ornament company in oberlind with his. These handblown glass ornaments were first produced in germany in the mid 19th century, but in the midst of world war ii, european imports. This year when it came time to decorate the tree in my dining room, i went with a preppy theme a white christmas tree decorated with vintage pinkandgreen shinybrite ornaments. The 1950s was the shiny brite heyday, with eckardt operating four new jersey factories to keep pace with the demand. History of shiny brite christmas ornaments youtube. New listing 1 vintage empty shiny brite ornament box, shiny brite red box, rare shiny brite. Shiny brite christmas ornaments hung on many trees in mid1900s.
No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Eckardt was born in 1890 in oberlind, which was 20 miles away from the glass ornament hub of lauscha. I bought one of my favorites for my girls santa with a sleigh and reindeer. Eckardt was a german immigrant who decided to make his own ornaments, and sold them under the shiny brite name. The shiny brite company produced the most popular christmas tree ornaments in the united states throughout the 1940s and 1950s in 1937, max eckardt established shiny brite ornaments, working with the corning glass company to massproduce glass christmas ornaments. Almost every home in america had shiny brite ornaments of their tree. The history of shiny brite ornaments retro christmas cards. The origin of americanmade christmas ornaments and shiny brite. Some folks especially those selling on online like to call an ornament a shiny brite, just because it came with that cap, or it has that a scene or stencil on it. Some were in boxes that said shiny brite, others were unboxed.
If youre still checking that email address listed in your blog, i would love to hear if you think its a shiny brite or not. In 1937, max eckardt established shiny brite ornaments, working with the corning glass company to massproduce glass christmas ornaments. Ornaments are almost always reused year after year. After wwii was declared, decorative silver nitrate became a nonessential use of metal, so many of the ornaments were stripped of any silvering, and were mainly transparent with only hand painted colour on the outside of the bulb. New york each year, as part of christmas, we pull out a box of shiny brite glass ornaments.
New listing 3 vintage empty ornament boxes, vintage shiny brite, double glo christmas orn. If you ever want to know if an ornament is actually a shiny brite. The shiny brite ornament collection by christopher radko is a line of vintage glass christmas decor that hearkens back to the nostalgia of 1940s and 1950s america. Response was from several interesting folks who brought with them not only stories of their employment, but. Theyre called shiny brite, and the story behind them is rooted, surprisingly, in war. The manufacture of shiny brite ornaments can be linked to the history of the lauscha ornament industry through shiny brites entrepreneur max eckhart. Corning was producing over 300,000 ornaments a day instead of the 600 glassblown ornaments made in germany per day.
Christopher radko shiny brite holiday splendor 6 count 3. Eckardt had been importing handblown glass balls from germany since around 1907, but had the foresight to anticipate a. That clearly means terribly knowledgeable in my book. After wwii was declared, decorative silver nitrate became a nonessential use of metal, so many of the ornaments were stripped of any silvering, and were. Whats the history behind these adorable little ornaments. The history of shiny brite ornaments in brief, by cassandra. Interestingly, the history of the shiny brite ornament was directly impacted by wartime america. Shop for shiny brite glass ornaments online at target. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Shiny brite ornaments ruby lane follow this search.
But we keep the box, as it reminds us of another era, when americans actually made things. Tiny plastic choir boys, a somewhat weary looking elf, a flapper styled angel. The history of the shiny brite christmas ornament did you know. I inevitably loose a few each year to crashing to the floor and in just breaks my heart. In the early 20th century, japan entered the christmas market, consistently underselling the germans.
Postwwi, shiny brite became the largest ornament manufacturer in the world. What began with a purchase of 5 adorable shiny brite bell ornaments in 2009 has. A brief history of christmas tree ornaments collectibles. An appeal was made for former employees to join us with a tale swap of their experiences at shiny brite. Glass trim time shiny brite product pink christmas ornament set of twelve. Ornaments take many different forms, from a simple round ball to highly artistic designs.
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