Hard To Resist Blog
Glass Ornaments: A Complete Buyers Guide
Tuesday 18th June 2024
When purchasing glass ornaments there are many factors to consider.
For example, how they will suit your home decor, particular designs that you are interested in, or even those which hold historical or sentimental values.
Glass ornaments have various different purposes, from adorning the mantlepiece to hanging from a bookshelf to decorating the Christmas tree.
In this article, we will aim to provide a comprehensive guide on glass ornaments, from the various types to ornament gift ideas, looking after them sufficiently, tips on displaying them, and much more.
History of Glass Ornaments
Unsurprisingly, glass ornaments have a rich and varied history.
Thousands of years ago, glass ornaments such as vases, were used in Ancient Egypt as home decor - something that they are still used for today.
These glass ornaments were typically used to showcase the wealth of the very richest in society, such as pharaohs and other members of the Ancient Egyptian aristocracy.
Moving forward to Ancient Rome, artists and craftsmen began to add colour to the handcrafted glass ornaments and vases, through using various minerals or oxides.
By the time the medieval period came around in Europe (c. 300-1500), coloured glass was in huge demand.
Just think of the enormous stained glass windows that depict various scenes from the Bible and the medieval period itself on church windows.
As a result, the demand for coloured glass increased exponentially, and as a result, created more jobs.
This in turn drove the price of glass down, making it more accessible for people from most walks of life, and was no longer simply reserved for the aristocracy.
By the Victorian period in Britain, glass ornaments were used commonly in the home, and often became used for holiday glass ornaments.
In the modern era, there are a multitude of reasons why glass ornaments may be used, as well as the thousands of different styles that they come in.
For the remainder of this article, we will discuss the different types of glass ornaments and some display and care tips for them.
Types of Glass Ornaments
There are numerous different types of glass ornaments available on the market, all of which have their own unique charm and appeal to them.
In this section below, we will discuss three of the most popular in further detail.
Classical Glass Ornaments
Classic glass ornaments, also known as vintage glass ornaments, are a popular option to choose from.
There are many figures and styles associated with these vintage glass ornaments and are often sought after by ornament collectors.
Such examples include glass angels, which are not only beautiful pieces in their own right but also contribute towards glass ornament symbolism, which means that many of the angels hold sentimental or religious meanings to individual people.
Another trend that vintage or classic glass ornaments are often associated with is holiday ornaments - one of the most popular of course being Christmas.
Christmas glass ornaments are not only beautiful and sentimental, but they are typically passed down through the generations.
This makes them extra special, and an attractive option to buy because they can be revered highly by the family for years to come, and are also one of the most precious glass ornament styles available on the market.
So whether you are looking for the next family heirloom, or simply a pretty glass ornament to place on your mantlepiece, there are plenty of options available for you to purchase from here at Hard to Resist.
Handmade Glass Ornaments
In today's era of consumerism and convenience, many people like to buy cheap knock-off glass ornaments online, rather than shop for handcrafted ornaments.
However, you do not even have to leave the comfort of your own home to be able to purchase handcrafted glass ornaments - we have a plethora of them here at Hard to Resist!
One of the major benefits of shopping for these types of ornaments is that they are handcrafted by experts, meaning the quality is of the very top tier.
Our experts also pay close attention to the most recent glass ornament trends, so you can ensure that they are up to date with the most modern designs.
However, shopping for handmade glass ornaments also means that classic designs are not excluded.
Years of expertise in the glass crafting game means that our experts are indeed experts across numerous fields, and you can rest easy knowing that you can purchase some of the most unique glass ornaments right here at Hard to Resist.
Because of their handcrafted design, this means that each individual ornament differs slightly from every other glass ornament that is made, making them not only unique but a form of personalised glass ornament to an extent.
So, if you are looking for something completely unique and crafted by the very best in the field, then ensure that you opt to choose a handmade glass ornament when you are searching for your next purchase.
Blown Glass Ornaments
Another popular choice when it comes to glass ornaments is blown glass ornaments.
Much like their handmade counterparts, blown glass ornaments also offer a unique ornamental experience.
Glass blowing is a notoriously difficult art to master, so you know that any ornament which has been glass-blown is absolutely one of the finest around.
These also come in numerous different styles and designs.
Animals are often a popular choice, as are other intricate works such as angels or snowflakes.
Because they are very precious, they often become collectable glass ornaments, and much like vintage ornaments, they often become precious family heirlooms in years to come.
Choosing The Right Glass Ornaments
While glass ornaments are beautiful in their own right, and often look stunning placed anywhere within the home, there are some important considerations to take into account before choosing which type of glass ornaments are right for you.
Budget Considerations
Of course, while glass ornaments are beautiful pieces of art to display in your home, it is important to take into account any budget considerations that you might have.
As soon as the word 'ornament' is mentioned, people often think they are going to be expensive, but this is not always the case.
While there is a range of prices when it comes to glass ornaments - and some are indeed in the range of thousands of pounds to hundreds of thousands of pounds, there are plenty more available which are much more budget-friendly.
And the beauty of this is that you can shop around for pieces which suit your budget.
Sometimes, individual items come cheaper than a set of ornaments - and perhaps you could spread the cost such as purchasing one ornament at a time.
For example, attending local markets can be a good way to find bargains, and especially for finding a range of artisan glass ornaments that suit your budget.
Decorative Purposes
Perhaps the biggest reason that people purchase glass ornaments is for decorative purposes.
However, there are many factors to consider when you purchase a glass ornament and how you will use it to decorate a room.
For instance, you need to take into account the colour theme of the room that you would like it in.
Let's say that your lounge is fairly neutral-coloured.
In this case, you will want to opt for neutral-coloured ornaments, such as those with swirls of silver in them, or perhaps a platinum-themed ornament.
These crystal glass angels are a perfect example of a neutrally coloured ornament which will look good in any room.
Alternatively, if you like things bright and bubbly, then you should opt for something more vibrantly-coloured.
The beauty of glass ornament designs is that they come in a range of different colours, shapes and sizes, so if you would prefer something more brightly coloured then you have just as much choice as you do with the more neutrally coloured options.
For example, something like these cruise ships are an attractive option, because not only are they brightly coloured, but they are also handcrafted and offer you a completely unique glass ornament design to have in your home.
Taking space into account also very important when choosing decorations for a room. This is because, as is often the case with decorations - and especially decorative ornaments -
adopting the idea of "less is more" is generally good advice to stick by.
While a range of glass angels in different sizes is fine (as long as they are all in the same colour theme) or a set of coasters is no problem, for instance, having various different coloured angels, accompanied by coasters, set behind a large table centrepiece which is placed on a shelf in your lounge can make everything look too cluttered.
Therefore, choosing glass ornaments which complement your home decor and the space available to you is good advice to follow for a clean, refined look in your home.
Safety Tips
This next section may not have been something that you have considered before, however, it is nevertheless important to bear in mind.
If you have a dog or a cat, you will know all about animal-proofing your house.
Whether that's a baby-gate at the bottom of the stairs, or ensuring that no fragile ornaments are displayed within tail-wagging length for large dogs (or indeed, anywhere a cat can swipe at them).
Animal-proofing your ornaments is always worth doing if they are at risk of being knocked over by a pet.
The ornaments themselves are generally replaceable, but it is always best to keep them safe, especially if they are of sentimental value or worth a lot of money.
On top of that, the broken glass can injure an animal, costing up to hundreds of pounds in vet bills, as well as the risk of injuring yourself if you step on the broken glass, for instance.
Opting to place your glass ornaments in display cabinets or high up on shelves if you have a large dog or cat is generally a good idea.
Safety-proofing your glass ornaments also goes for children, too.
We all know how dangerously children like to live, so ensuring that your precious glass ornaments are placed safely and securely away from prying hands is a must.
You can keep them in a display cabinet, but as a general rule, once they are placed high enough away from little children on top of shelving units or cabinets, this is generally safe enough.
Educating young children about the importance of glass ornaments and why they are special is also a good tip so that they understand why they are not toys to be played with.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are many reasons to purchase a glass ornament, whether it is from a sentimental point of view, or perhaps because you have recently decorated your house, and want something to complement the new decor within your home.
Glass ornaments have a rich and varied history.
From the glass vases that were on display in the Ancient Egyptian Pharaohs' magnificent palaces on the banks of the River Nile, to the glass bauble that your grandmother bought you last Christmas, glass ornaments of all shapes and sizes exude sentimentality, preciousness and beauty.
It is important to consider your budget when looking for glass ornaments of any shape and size, as well as how they will fit in with your home.
This will help you to find any ornaments that offer a unique touch to your home, while also blending in with the current decor that you have - so whether it is something neutrally coloured or something more vibrant and brightly coloured, you can rest assured knowing that there is a glass ornament out there for everyone.
Finally, when you are searching for that perfect glass ornament, it is important to consider which type you would like - from a handcrafted glass ornament to an ornament professionally made by an expert glass blower.
But it is also important that, where possible, you support a local and/or small business whenever you can.
For any further information on glass ornaments and the like, please check out our other blogs here.
Happy shopping!