Christmas Tree Ornament, 1950-1955

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

1950-55

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

2004.87.21

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of family of Joseph & Helen (Szczepaniak) Lyk.

Material

Glass (Material)
Aluminum (Metal)

Color

White (Color)
Silver (Color)
Pink (Color)
Blue
Gold (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 3 in
Diameter: 2.5 in

Inscriptions

SHINY BRITE / MADE IN U.S.A.[on cap]
Christmas Tree Ornament, 1950-1955