Those of us forever in love with “Christmas Past “may want to take or family and friends back in time when we decorate our homes at Christmas time. Victorian Christmas ornaments may be the theme we are looking for our holiday decorations. Victorian Christmas ornaments are timeless and reproductions can become family heirlooms.

If you are looking for the “real thing” your best source would be your local antique shops.  You need to do your research; reproductions are hard for the amateur to spot. Antique Christmas ornaments tend to be rather pricy. This is not only doing to the age of the ornament but because of the workmanship that went into the making of the ornaments. Victorian ornaments were generally not mass produced .They were meticulously handmade and usually no two are alike.

Designs of antique Victorian ornaments include designs of early Father Christmas, blown glass balls, Dresden, and other period designers. Materials used in these pieces include silk flowers, die cut papers, glass beads and spun glass.  Many of the older ornaments include decorations made from chromolithographs with lace from fabric or metallic sources. The most difficult pieces to find are Angels and early representations of St. Nicholas. These generally are from the early 1900’s, but fit nicely into Victorian decors.

Reproductions of glass garland beads are not as difficult to find. They are themed with things like cattle and birds that we do not necessarily associate with modern Christmas. The themed glass garlands beads however, are period appreciate for a Victorian Christmas tree.  You can find ‘bird’ or other animal themed beads and use less expressive beads between the glass animal beads to save money and still keep your Victorian look.  Paralyzed plastic flower or bird beads are inexpensive and still give you that rich glass garland look. Plastic beads also may last longer in a household with children and pets. Beading your garland can be a family project where each child picks their favorite animal to create their own special “Victorian” ornament.

Simplicity can also represent ornaments of Christmas past. Stringing popcorn and using fabric ribbon on a tree can give it that homey 19^th century look.  Mixing your garland with cranberries can give the look of a pioneer Christmas.  Do not make your edible garland to early or you might find it drying out or being consumed by the family dog. If time does not allow you to string popcorn garland or you want garland that is not so tempting to the family pets then check out The  Christmas  Mouse  online they offer nice looking plastic popcorn garland as well as other garland they would be appropriate for a Victorian Christmas tree. Wood and cloth handmade ornaments that are not perfect can be made and cherished year to year, and are good additions to old fashioned homespun themed Christmas trees.

Go online and look at the variety of reproduction Victorian Christmas ornaments or indulge in the more expensive real thing. Just make sure you do your research if you are looking to buy antique Christmas ornaments to make sure you are getting the real thing.

Antique Christmas ornaments can make wonderful gifts that are sure to become family heirlooms. If you know someone who is crazy about ‘Christmas Past” you may want to consider them as a gift.