First-class Christmas ornaments – glass by Inge Glas
Have you ever hung a Weisswurst sausage on your Christmas tree? Or a bottle of Chianti, a tin of caviar, a jar of pickles? No? Then it's about time. Welcome to the world of Inge Glas.
• Inge Glas makes mouth-blown, hand-silvered and hand-painted Christmas ornaments in Neustadt near Coburg, Germany.
• The Müller-Blech family's glassmaking tradition goes back to 1597 and is now in its 15th generation.
• Alongside classic baubles there are gloriously crazy designs – from Weisswurst to champagne bottles.
• At 4D OUTFITTERS you will find Inge Glas in our boutique in Bregenz and online.
Why we love Christmas so much
We love Christmas – let's get that out of the way. Because everything sparkles and glitters. Because it's the most wonderful time of the year. And because we love decorating our boutique in Bregenz – ideally with ornaments by Inge Glas.
For anyone who doesn't know Inge Glas yet: this is genuine, traditional craftsmanship made in Germany. Every bauble and every ornament is made in the company's own workshop in Neustadt near Coburg, on the edge of the Thuringian Forest. We have been there ourselves and seen how much love for detail goes into the work. The glass ornaments are mouth-blown, silvered by hand and lovingly hand-painted. The result: glass decorations of the highest quality and lasting value. And lasting value is something we care about a lot.
By the way, how to tell genuine German Christmas ornaments from mass-produced ones is explained in our article Genuine Christmas ornaments made in Germany.
Crazy Christmas: something different for your tree
What makes these Christmas tree treasures so special? Exquisite materials such as clear crystal glass, fine glitter and sparkling crystal embellishments. And – our favourite part – unusual designs. No frills, but witty, a little cheeky and kind of crazy.
A Weisswurst with matching sweet mustard? A bottle of Chianti? Caviar, a champagne bottle or a handbag with a gold chain? No, we haven't lost our minds. We're completely serious – or rather, Inge Glas is. Anyone who thinks the workshop only does classic is very much mistaken. Its ornaments can be crazy and a little bonkers too. And we think that's brilliant.
In the US, the Christmas pickle is known as an "old German tradition": whoever finds the pickle hidden in the tree first gets an extra present. In Germany, however, hardly anyone knows it – according to a YouGov poll, 91 per cent of Germans had never heard of it. It is probably a German-American invention of the late 19th century.
Handmade – and made to last
Why are we fans of Inge Glas? Simply because everything is handmade. There are people behind it who care about (almost) nothing more than making the most beautiful Christmas ornaments. Sounds a little theatrical? Maybe. But it's true.
They are made the Lauscha way, in the tradition of the Thuringian glassblowing village of Lauscha. Treated well, these ornaments will accompany you for decades – and may one day be passed on to the next generation. Sustainability isn't a buzzword here, it's everyday practice.
Curiosities about Inge Glas and the Christmas bauble
Things you probably didn't know
- Over 400 years of glassmaking
In 1597 Christoph Müller, an ancestor of the Müller-Blech family, founded the "mother glassworks" in Lauscha. Today the family carries on the craft in its 15th generation.
- Escape across the border
In 1951 Heinz Müller-Blech fled from Thuringia to the West and founded the workshop in Neustadt near Coburg – just a few metres behind the inner-German border.
- A name with heart
Inge Glas is named after Inge, the wife of Heinz Müller-Blech.
- The bauble born of hardship
Legend has it that around 1847 a poor glassblower in Lauscha blew the first glass Christmas baubles because he couldn't afford apples, nuts and sweets for his tree. What is documented is an order for six dozen "Christmas balls" from 1848.
- Woolworth made them world-famous
At the end of the 19th century, department store entrepreneur Frank Winfield Woolworth discovered the glass baubles in Sonneberg and sold them in his American stores.
- Moulds from the 19th century
Many Inge Glas designs are still made today in moulds dating back to the 1860s. Since 1987 the workshop has marked its pieces with a small star crown as a sign of origin.
You will find Inge Glas in our boutique in Bregenz and in our online shop. Shipping is free from € 200, and you have a 14-day right of return. Every purchase earns you stars in the 4D Insider Club. Questions? Write to us at service@4doutfitters.com.
Frequently asked questions
Where are Inge Glas Christmas ornaments made?
In the company's own workshop in Neustadt near Coburg in Upper Franconia, Germany, in the tradition of the Lauscha glassblowers.
Are Inge Glas ornaments mouth-blown?
Yes. The ornaments are mouth-blown, silvered by hand and hand-painted.
Where can I buy Inge Glas?
At 4D OUTFITTERS in Bregenz and in our online shop.
Your 4D OUTFITTERS team, Bregenz
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