How Our Ornaments Are Made

How Our Ornaments are Made

Landmark Creations ornaments are created differently. Working one on one of each our clients to learn of the special nuances and features of a particular property, icon or even a memory, a design is conceptualized beyond the black and white. A little creative license, carefully chosen lacquers, glitters and crystals, and the resulting ornament becomes more than just an object. Coupled with the physical properties of molten glass and its European art form, Landmark Creations ornaments have special magic that differs from all others.

Design

Joellen’s designs are drawn on paper, first as a black and white sketch, and then rendered into a 3-D color design. The completed artwork is sent, along with the color and glittering specifications, to one of our makers in Europe.

Prepping

The 3-D design is used by the sculptor to sculpt a clay model which is then used to create the actual mold into which the glass is blown and shaped. To start, the blower, who has most often been trained by his father and his father before him, will gently roll the glass pipette over the open flame to warm it.

Shaping

Sealing one end, the blower will blow a small ball shape before closeting the parts of the mold over it. Once closed, the blower continues to blow so that the molten glass fills the entire interior of the mold.

Cooling

One removed from the mold, the glass is carefully manipulated so that as it cools, the shape is held.

Silvering

After it is blown, the shape is then cooled. At this point the ball may be silvered or not. Silvering is the process by which a clear drop of silver nitrate is inserted into the glass ornament. The ornament is then submerged into a tub of hot water and shaken so that the nitrate/water solution coats the interior of the glass shape. The heat of the bath makes the nitrate turn silver and it is this silver coating on the inside of the ornament that creates the incredible luminosity in the paint used on the exterior of the ornament.

Decorating

Silvered or not, once the glass shape is cooled and dried, the next step is to decorate the ornament. It takes hours!

Final Steps

Once the paints and glitters have dried, the neck of the ornament is cut and cap, loop and medallion are attached.

It’s no wonder that Landmark Creations’ ornaments are

The Most Beautiful Ornaments of the World™

Given all the steps to be taken during both the creative and physical process of making an ornament, the development of just one design may take up to 9 months!