Need help to figure out how old your vintage Christmas ornament is?
This lens gives you a quick guide to the Christmas decorating trends by decade. This will give you a general idea of the major types of Christmas ornaments and decorations that were popular in each decade of the past century.
Quick Synopsis of History of Christmas Ornaments
Rundown by Decade
There are so many wonderful areas for collecting in Christmas and almost everyone remembers some favorite ornament or some treasured display that their parents or grandparents used. Some collect by theme. Santas, snowmen, nativity and angel collectors are prime examples. Others collect by era. Let me give you a quick rundown of the eras.
1890s & Earlier
Use of live trees became popular in the late 18th century as Prince Albert (from Germany) brought the German custom of a decorated and candle lit tree to his wife (Queen Victoria) and family in England. The oldest ornaments date from that era. You will find scrap ornaments, old metal candleholders and glass candleholders that date to the turn of the century.
1900s
This era saw the advent of the earliest glass ornaments, called kugels. These are heavy and topped with a flat metal cap with ring for hanging. Clip on candle holders were popular as were the glass holders for live flame candles. Trees were lighted only once as the children were ushered in to view the tree. The candles were extinguished fairly quickly after the decorated tree was admired.
Metal Candleholders
1910
We saw the advent of scrap ornaments and the use of actual items (toys and dolls) and sweets hung on the tree in paper cornucopias and boxes.
1920s
The earliest electric lights were introduced in the 20s. We also saw the beginning of the figural ornament industry, mostly blown into molds or hand blown from Germany. The earliest celluloid ornaments appeared.
Figural Fruit, Celluloid & Tin Santa
1930s
More varieties of electric lights were introduced and the introduction of the "ribbon" glass blowing machine made mass production of glass sphere ornaments possible. Japan began mass production of all sorts of ornaments which became very popular.
Ribbon blown, Japanese Ornaments
1940s
These were the years of WWII. Imports from Japan and Germany abruptly stopped and the war effort led to the conservation of precious metals. Glass ornaments were no longer lined with silvering and most were marked "Made in USA". Post war led to the resumption of imports marked "occupied". Bubble lights were very popular in this era.
Early WWII-Unsilvered With Tinsel Inside--Mid or Late WWII-Unsilvered--Bubble Light
1950s
There was a resurgence of ornaments from Japan and lots of hard plastic (unbreakable) items produced. The "Shiny Brite" brand of glass ornaments put out some of its best decorated glass spheres. These are being reproduced today. Also, we saw the movement of the cottage glassblowing industry from Germany to Czechoslovakia and Poland. Miniature lights were introduced.
Shiny Brite Stencil, Hard Plastic Angel, Shiny Brite Shapes
1960s
Who can forget the aluminum trees and revolving lights? And the plastic ornaments and many, many Japanese imports. The miniature lights just about took over the lighting of trees.
Plastic Ornament
1970s
A return to nature led to many handmade look ornaments being produced from an amazing variety of types and sources. Lots of fabric ornaments were produced in this era. Hallmark began it's Keepsake Ornament line in the second half of the decade.
Handmade Ornaments
1980s
The theme tree became popular and several companies came out with color coordinated lines of ornaments. Also, a resurgence of glass ornaments began. Hallmark produced a larger line each year. Radko and Old World Christmas searched out old molds and began creating new ones and led to the renewed appreciation of the old style decorations.
Radko Ornament
1990s & The Current Era
We now have Department 56, Midwest Importers, Old World Christmas, Radko, Byers Choice, Boyd's Bears, and on and on. These producers each give us a collectible line of lovely Christmas items to choose from.
1890s & Earlier
Use of live trees became popular in the late 18th century as Prince Albert (from Germany) brought the German custom of a decorated and candle lit tree to his wife (Queen Victoria) and family in England. The oldest ornaments date from that era. You will find scrap ornaments, old metal candleholders and glass candleholders that date to the turn of the century.
1900s
This era saw the advent of the earliest glass ornaments, called kugels. These are heavy and topped with a flat metal cap with ring for hanging. Clip on candle holders were popular as were the glass holders for live flame candles. Trees were lighted only once as the children were ushered in to view the tree. The candles were extinguished fairly quickly after the decorated tree was admired.
Metal Candleholders
1910
We saw the advent of scrap ornaments and the use of actual items (toys and dolls) and sweets hung on the tree in paper cornucopias and boxes.
1920sThe earliest electric lights were introduced in the 20s. We also saw the beginning of the figural ornament industry, mostly blown into molds or hand blown from Germany. The earliest celluloid ornaments appeared.
Figural Fruit, Celluloid & Tin Santa
1930sMore varieties of electric lights were introduced and the introduction of the "ribbon" glass blowing machine made mass production of glass sphere ornaments possible. Japan began mass production of all sorts of ornaments which became very popular.
Ribbon blown, Japanese Ornaments
1940s
These were the years of WWII. Imports from Japan and Germany abruptly stopped and the war effort led to the conservation of precious metals. Glass ornaments were no longer lined with silvering and most were marked "Made in USA". Post war led to the resumption of imports marked "occupied". Bubble lights were very popular in this era.
Early WWII-Unsilvered With Tinsel Inside--Mid or Late WWII-Unsilvered--Bubble Light
1950sThere was a resurgence of ornaments from Japan and lots of hard plastic (unbreakable) items produced. The "Shiny Brite" brand of glass ornaments put out some of its best decorated glass spheres. These are being reproduced today. Also, we saw the movement of the cottage glassblowing industry from Germany to Czechoslovakia and Poland. Miniature lights were introduced.
Shiny Brite Stencil, Hard Plastic Angel, Shiny Brite Shapes
1960sWho can forget the aluminum trees and revolving lights? And the plastic ornaments and many, many Japanese imports. The miniature lights just about took over the lighting of trees.
Plastic Ornament
1970sA return to nature led to many handmade look ornaments being produced from an amazing variety of types and sources. Lots of fabric ornaments were produced in this era. Hallmark began it's Keepsake Ornament line in the second half of the decade.
Handmade Ornaments
1980s
The theme tree became popular and several companies came out with color coordinated lines of ornaments. Also, a resurgence of glass ornaments began. Hallmark produced a larger line each year. Radko and Old World Christmas searched out old molds and began creating new ones and led to the renewed appreciation of the old style decorations.
Radko Ornament
1990s & The Current EraWe now have Department 56, Midwest Importers, Old World Christmas, Radko, Byers Choice, Boyd's Bears, and on and on. These producers each give us a collectible line of lovely Christmas items to choose from.
My Favorite Collector Reference Books!
I've voted for mine! Now you vote for yours!
Pictorial Guide to Christmas Ornaments and Collectibles: Identification and Values by George Johnson
This easy to use, new pictorial guide will be the more...1 point
Collector's Encyclopedia of Electric Christmas Lighting: Identification & Values (Collector's Encyclopedia) by Cindy Chipps, Greg Olson
This unique collaboration between authors Cindy Ch more...1 point
Christmas 1960 to the Present: A Collector's Guide to Decorations And Customs by Robert Brenner
Christmas celebrations of the past forty years are more...1 point
Christmas Through the Decades/a Guide to Christmas Antiques by Robert Brenner
From the first Christmas celebrations in Colonial more...1 point
Christmas Pins Past and Present: Identification and Value Guide (Christmas Pins) by Jill Gallina
Gallina has included detailed histories about many more...0 points
Christmas, 1940-1959: A Collector's Guide to Decorations and Customs (Schiffer Book for Collectors) by Robert Brenner
This in-depth review of Christmas history and trad more...0 points
Christmas Past by Robert Brenner
The historical importance, makers, materials, and more...0 points
Cristmas Revisited by Robert Brenner
Illustrating and describing over a thousand Christ more...0 points
My Christmas Sites - From Grandma's Tree
vintage Christmas you'd swear was From Grandma's Tree...
Visit these sites and enjoy!
- From Grandma's Tree
- This is my eBay ProStore site that offers my best items for sale. Don't miss it!
- From Grandma's Tree eBay Store
- This is my eBay store. The best bargains are located here!
Sign up for my store newsletter and get my free report on the top 10 mistakes sellers make when listing vintage Christmas items. - Vintage Christmas Seller Blog
- This is my Christmas Seller's Blog where I post weekly, the top 10 products searched for on eBay. This can help you to post items that buyers are currently searching for or to use approprate keywords in your title.
Buyers may find it of interest to see how popular their favorite collecting items are. - Ecrater Store
- My eCrater store with a smaller selection of items.
- Squidoo From Grandma's Tree
- My 5 STAR service guarantee and more!
- Golden Glow of Christmas Past
- The premier organization for collectors of vintage Christmas. Please consider joining!
What Is Your Favorite?
Christmas Collecting is Soooo Addictive. What is your passion? What era do you prefer?
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by GrandmaRose
eBay seller since 1999, Grandma Rose currently sells under three different eBay identities: gmastree, rosesbuttons and rosessundries. (more)
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