Kugel is a German word that means ball and can be used to describe any type of ball-like object. Collectors used this term to describe any early thick glass ornament with a decorative cap. Early Kugels were too heavy to hang on tree branches; instead they were suspended from the ceiling. Given the yuletide images they conjure, kugels’ origins are somewhat surprising. Spheres, called “witch balls, ” were hung year-round in windows and doors in 17th-century England and later in the United States. Their purpose was to ward off witches, “who were thought to be repulsed by round shapes, ” McManus says. But the ornaments also brought beauty and bright bursts of color into the home, just as they do today. Of a Victorian kugel ornament is a mirror onto the past. Hold one in your hand and you can imagine it on an old-fashioned Christmas tree, reflecting the flickering flames of candles. “Kugels have a weight and beautifully aged patina that other decorations can’t rival, ” says Craig McManus, a collector in Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey, who owns more than 400 kugels, many of which appear here. Embossed brass caps with rings were added to globes of various sizes in the 1840s, giving birth to the first Christmas tree ornaments, known as kugels. Pink, purple , and orange pieces are most rare; red kugels are obtainable but costly. The most common hues are silver, then gold, green, and cobalt. Pale blue and turquoise tones are less abundant. Among kugel shapes, balls are most prevalent, followed by grapes. Eggs, teardrops, and especially ribbed forms are highly coveted. Other shapes, such as berries or artichokes, are extremely difficult to find. Kugels look radiant as a centerpiece, dangling from a chandelier like jewels, and, of course, dotting the tree. We will be happy to answer any question. Please make sure you see the pictures carefully. The item “Antique KUGEL DARK PURPLE GLASS SPHERE CHRISTMAS TREE ORNAMENT BIG Heavy” is in sale since Friday, January 22, 2016. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Holiday & Seasonal\Christmas\ Modern (1946-90)\Ornaments\Glass, Crystal”. The seller is “mt_treasures_2014″ and is located in Helena, Montana. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Country/Region of Manufacture: Germany