The custom of decorating the Christmas tree originated in Northern Europe. Tallinn and Riga, the capitals of Estonia and Latvia, both claim this tradition, dating it back to 1441 and 1510, respectively.
In Germany, during the 17th century, the ritual of publicly decorating fir trees with apples, nuts, and paper flowers for Advent ceremonies was already common among wealthy Rhine households. In the rest of Europe, this practice gained popularity in the 19th century, coinciding with the birth of the first glass ornaments. Certain glassworks in Germany and others in French Alsace are historically noted for this invention.
The ornaments, made of heavy colored and silvered glass, were spherical or shaped like pine cones, grapes, Santa Claus, angels, birds, and other animals. Produced also in Bohemia and Russia, these were exported to Britain and America, alongside homemade decorations made from fabric or scrap materials, as well as those made in Dresden with chromolithography and embossed paper.
Due to their inherent fragility, all existing vintage examples are considered survivors, akin to memories and moments of family intimacy to which they are indelibly connected.
At Expertise, you can find original decorations from the late 1800s to the 1970s. Precious items to recreate the authentic atmosphere of the most enchanting holiday of the year.
