The secrets of making Christmas balls in the French factory located in the Vosges Mountains
In Meisenthal, in the Vosges Mountains, the traditional production of hand-blown glass Christmas balls continues.
This little magic happens in the International Center of Glass Art, where since the last century glass masters and artists have given life to the manufacture of the most loved Christmas decoration.
Legend has it that Christmas tree balls were invented in 1858 at a time when fruit was scarce due to drought, until then used to decorate trees.
So a glassblower from Goetzenbruck had the idea of blowing some balls into glass to decorate the trees. This is how the tradition was born.
The Goetzenbruck glassworks successfully launched into the manufacture of decorative balls before being undermined by the plastic boom in the 60s that forced it to stop production.
Production resumed only towards the end of the 90s, because the glass center of Meisenthal, located a few kilometers away, decided to revive this ancient tradition.
The International Center for Glass Art today offers two collections of Christmas balls: a traditional line and a contemporary line. The latter is enriched every year by a new piece signed by an artist.
In 2018, creator Nathalie Nierengarten imagined “Arti”, a dreamlike Christmas ball with generous shapes. A creation that incorporates the lines of the artichoke, an element present in local Christmas lunches.
For the year 2021, the Meisenthal laboratory has as its protagonist "PIAF", the annual Christmas ball, created by the designer Harmonie Begon.
“PIAF” has a diameter of 6,5 cm and a height of 11 cm with its clip and available in many colors.
Every year the center produces fantastic and unique balls, a tradition that delights the curious and collectors.
The Meisenthal glass center includes the International Center for Glass Art, the Halle Verrière creative space and the Glass Museum.
Source: it.france.fr
