The Glass Collectible Ornament Sets consist of 3 Hand Painted Miniature Glass Ornaments ranging in size from 3¾ inches tall to 3¼ inches tall. The 3¼ inch tall Mary ornament is wearing a long, dark midnight blue, hooded cape, with midnight blue glitter edging, over a pale azure gown, with light azure glitter highlights. Joseph is 3¾ inches tall with dark brown hair, beard and mustache and is wearing a pale olive drab cape, with iridescent pale green glitter edging, over a dark cadmium red gown. He is carrying a brown and gold lantern in his right hand and a pale orange cane in his left hand. Baby Jesus in his pale gold manger is 3¼ inches long, with iridescent cinnamon colored glitter. The Nativity Glass Ornament Sets come in a 5 by 6 inch rectangular, wooden Gift Box. Select this link to view our Other Blown Glass Ornaments.
The History of Blown Glass
In the 1500’s in Germany, the glass blower family Muller worked diligently to produce mouth blown glassware of the highest quality for their countrymen and later for others all over the world to enjoy. For nearly as many years, a second family, the Eichhorn’s produced fine quality glassware to be cherished, as well.
Beginning in he 1860’s, the glass blowing techniques of both families were specifically customized for creating Christmas ornaments. As the generations passed, each generation would take great care to share the expertise with the generation to follow.
In the 1960’s, young Klaus Muller Blech, 14th generation descendant and Birgit Eichhorn Jeremias Sohn spent countless hours in the glass workshops of their grandparents and parents in Neustadt Germany, learning various aspects of the profession. Both grew to love this vocation and realized it was undeniably ingrained in their spirit. The two glassblowing enthusiasts continued to work in the profession of their forefathers into adulthood.
In 1992 a convention of antique Christmas ornament collectors was held in Reading, Pennsylvania. Separately Klaus and Birgit made arrangements to attend the convention in order to search for the ornaments of their families’ past. Through their activities there, they went home with more than the antique treasures they expected. Imagine two Germans traveled over 3,000 miles from the small town of Neustadt finally to meet each other for the first time in the United States.
The rest of the story continues in the style of history’s great romances. The two fell in love and were married. The families joined forces and combined their tradition and skills at the inge glas workshops in Germany. Together their collection includes more than 6,000 antique glass blower moulds dating from the 1850’s. In addition, new designs are created each year to represent the Christmas traditions of today.
Inge’s Christmas Heirlooms, named for Klaus Muller Blech’s late mother, represents much more than a collection of ornaments. Inge glas is still a family operated business with fourteen generations of effort, heart and soul invested. For generations, inge glas ornaments have been handcrafted with the skill of their forefathers to make heirloom quality ornaments for others to enjoy.
Adorned with the authentic star crown, inge glass trademark, these ornaments are easily recognizable.
Just like the ornaments many families in the United States already own, which were passed down by their parents and grandparents, Inge’s Christmas Heirlooms are for Christmas lovers of all ages and background’s to collect and treasure today and for generations to come. The collection is a link between Christmas Past and Christmas Future. Select this link to view our Nativity Christmas Ornaments.