Our systems will undergo scheduled maintenance today, May 18, beginning at 5 p.m.

During this time, you may experience brief interruptions on the site. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Christmas Tree Ornament, 1942-1945

THF155288 / Christmas Tree Ornament, 1942-1945
01

Artifact Overview

When Americans stopped importing hand-blown 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 machine-blown bulbs. Eckardt's 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.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Christmas tree ornament

Date Made

1942-1945

Creator Notes

Colorless glass ornaments were created by Corning Glass Works (Corning, New York) and decorated and distributed by Max Eckardt and Sons (headquarters New York, New York), likely in one of their four New Jersey factories.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

2000.99.3

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Glass (Material)
Tin (Metal)
Wire

Color

Colorless
Red
Yellow (Color)
Green

Dimensions

Height: 3.0 in
Diameter: 2.25 in

02

Related Content

  • an angular red, blue, green, and yellow Christmas ornament with a metal topper
    article

    From Light Bulbs to Christmas Baubles

      Learn how a machine that manufactured incandescent lightbulbs helped Corning Glass Works become America’s primary glass Christmas ornament supplier.