Unsilvered USA Glass Ornaments Tinsel Inside Lot, 3 Corning War Era Christmas Ornaments

Wonderful lot of three vintage Corning unsilvered glass ornaments with a long sparkly tinsel spray inside. American made. These type of ornaments were made for a very short period of time, circa 1940.

These USA WWII blown glass ornaments feature transparent glass, one clear and two with a lovely light coating of gold and red stain or paint. Ornaments of this era were not silvered inside due to wartime restrictions. Thus, a long multi-branch silver tinsel spray was inserted into the interior of the ornament to give it sparkle and shine. Corning is known for fat pikes and the smooth, scalloped shape metal cap. These caps are stamped, “Made in US of A”, which also helps to date them. (US of A on a cap usually means early-mid 1940s.)

The two teardrop ornaments measure 2.75 inches tall to the top of the cap and 1.5 inches wide. The round sphere is 2.25 inches to the top of the cap and 1.75 inches wide. All are in excellent vintage condition free of chips or cracks. There are a few tiny flecks of paint loss, but minor. The caps show some age related oxidation oxidation.

This is a wonderful trio of 1940s USA unsilvered tinsel Christmas ornaments, a great addition to any war era ornament collection!

SIDE NOTE: Metallic mercury glass ornaments get their shine from being coated on their interior with a silver nitrate solution. In 1940, WWII wartime shortages restricted this material, and ornaments during this time frame were produced without silvering. Since unsilvered ornaments were less popular than the shiny mercury glass, they are harder to find and thus more collectible.

In 1939 the British Blockade prevented European goods from being exported to the U.S., and Americans missed their beloved German Christmas ornaments. These ornaments were made in 1940 to meet the high demand, and a year later the use of the silver tinsel inside was discontinued, as even that bit of metal was deemed necessary for the war effort.

We have a nice selection of unique vintage USA American ornaments and decorations, including more Corning Christmas ornaments!

Please visit our sister shop, the Cool Old Stuff For Sale Vintage Rack, full of high quality antiques and collectibles and they are all ON SALE!