Shiny & Bright - Shiny Brites, Ornaments with a Past

I hope they all had shiny & bright Christmases...That all their Christmas wishes were filled...maybe a puppy, skates with keys, dolls & sweet treats…a ring?Who? You ask...The families who owned our box of red Shiny Brites before us.

The Shiny Brite Company of New York was founded in 1937 by Max Eckardt.Max worked with Corning Glass to mass produce glass ornaments.  This all American made product was the most popular Christmas decor of the 1940's & 50's.This box, & the others I have, are likely pre WWII as the caps & hooks are metal. During the war, due to a metal shortage, the caps were made of cardboard. Thereafter, the hooks were made of metal again and elongated.I love thinking about all the hands that held each Shiny Brite ornament up to a branch.  What were their lives like?  Was there music playing as they decorated, laughter, snow falling…?I like to think they were happy.  I feel connected to them.

Our red Shiny Brites are adorning my little vintage silver tree.  I found the tree in a crumbling box at an estate sale.  I wasn't sure all the branches would be in the box, but for a dollar took the chance.  Good news ~ all there!

Balanced in a maple syrup bucket and nestled with a grain sack, the little tree is standing tall & proud.  Gracing its branches are shiny & bright remnants of the past.Do you have any ornaments with a past?** Kelly **Linking up at Shabby Art Boutique Shabbilicious Friday