Watch as Assistant Curator Becky Luffman gently handles and examines a selection of delicate Christmas baubles made in the historic German town of Lauscha, world-renowned for the production of festive glass ornaments.
From lampworking and glassblowing, to glitter application and lacquering, find out about the care taken to make these beautiful pieces that bring us joy year after year.
00:00 Introduction to Christmas baubles and handling
01:27 Pinecone-shaped bauble
02:59 Glittery bauble
05:20 Tree topper
07:41 Ice lacquered bauble
08:50 Bell-shaped bauble
Make your own V&A-inspired Christmas tree decoration: https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/make-your-own-va-inspired-christmas-tree-decoration
Find out about Victorian Christmas traditions: https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/victorian-christmas-traditions
Discover more in our glass collection: https://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/glass
20 Comments
Why is the v&a showing modern ornaments and not rare antiques?!
Was so looking forward to watching this… but those bright blue gloves are so overpoweringly distracting and glaring, it was real work to keep concentration on the actual object and the information being shared.
Bright blue gloves. I mean… really.
My mum had several of these on our tree in the 60’s when I could remember. They are gorgeous to see every Christmas, even now very stunning baubles.
Enjoyable but my Nanna's collection of vintage glass ornaments and tree topper were easily as impressive if not more, all dated from the 1950's and earlier..
I love that other countries call them baubles and in the US we simply call the spherical ones BALLS
I hope sometime you will have the opportunity to come to Corning and view the collection at the Corning Museum of Glass.
the Tree Top was not blown in a mold, it was blown freehand. the artist will heat part of the cane and then blow out the first ball, press in the "indent" then heat another part of the cane, blow the next ball, then heat the top of the cane, blow the final ball and pull (stretch) it up to create the top.
Beautifully presented.xx
wonderful hearing how these ornaments were made ❄️🎄🖌️
I would love to learn this craft but very hard to find a workshop in the UK specifically like the German and Polish ornaments. Thank you for this video
I loved the purple one and the tree topper!
It was fascinating to hear about this spectacular craft! The skill & talents required to create these was incredible!! Also, great photos of the craftsmen & younger child(a boy), too bad they didn’t show the women as well. These baubles bring back great holiday memories!!
Amazing video and storytelling ❤❤
this is so lovely
This is my first viewing of this delightful lady and her expertise of the creative and gifted glass blower and artists. Very well presented and lovely to watch. Thank you
Wonderful font of information.
Interestingly enough in the USSR they had almost all of these designs.
The greatest christmas baubles are from Czech republic….HAN design
I was disappointed in the ‘92 frosty manger ornament – all that expertise put into such a basic image? I was expecting something more grand and ornate, with TONS of detail – and then I see this basic stock-art looking image with snow
Becky looks like the vocalist here on YouTube