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German Kugel is Popular Decoration
German kugel is popular decoration
Some of the most popular 19th-century holiday decorations came from Germany, originator of the Christmas tree, the outdoor Thuringian markets and early glass ornaments.
The quintessential ornament is the German kugel. Nineteenth-century glassblowers in the historic town of Lauscha produced glass tubes and beads that were sold all across Europe. These became the seed for a growing interest in Christmas ornaments in the 1800s.
The tubes and beads became the impetus for the mass production of the kugel. They first appeared in the 1820s in bright glass spheres and molded shapes. Some of the most popular were grapes or berry clusters, apples and pears. Kugels typically were hung from the holiday tree, while in some homes glass kugels adorned entryways next to the mistletoe.
Many holiday decorators and collectors believe leaving a German kugel on display in the home after the holidays brings good fortune all year.
In Lauscha, glass blowing was a time-honored activity. Holiday trees were adorned with miniature ornaments made of glass in shapes ranging from majestic white horses to gingerbread houses. Some hand-blown glass ornaments were blown around a mold to obtain a distinctive shape or blown free-form, based on the abilities of the glass artisan.
Values for Kugel ornaments range from $250 to $1,200, depending condition, provenance and style. Dr. Lori is a certified appraiser with a Ph.D. in art history. Visit www.DrLoriV.com or call (888) 431-1010.
[liPublished]: November 30. 2007 3:10AM
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