Make Your Tree “Antique” with Victorian Christmas Tree Ornaments
by Decoration Diva Subscribe To Our Feed
Many people enjoy antiquing - searching out rare treasures often at bargain basement prices. At an antique store, you can find lots of different items in various states of repair. In antiquing, the old adage, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure, is definitely true. Christmas tree ornaments, especially Victorian Christmas tree ornaments, are becoming increasingly popular among antiquers.
Christmas Tree ornaments from the Victorian Era
The Victorian era - the long period from 1837 to 1901 when Queen Victoria ruled England - is normally associated only with the UK, but the US was also affected by Victorian tastes and values. Victoria was famously rigid, yet her era also saw extremely fine decorations, and Victorian Christmas tree ornaments often reflect this.
Throughout most of the Victorian era, very few if any people had electricity available. So instead of strings of Christmas lights, candles were used to light up the tree. While very few candles survive from that time, the candles themselves were set in brass candle holders, and those candle holders are now prized as classic Victorian Christmas tree ornaments.
Those depicting Father Christmas are another example of classic Victorian Christmas tree ornaments. While Father Christmas and Santa Claus are essentially the same person (based on the real Saint Nicholas), they do not have similar appearances. Instead of the familiar red suit, Victorian era “Father Christmas” ornaments show a man with a long white beard and long robes, resulting in an appearance that people today might associate more with a philosopher or a wizard. And a decent number of Victorian Christmas tree ornaments based on this image of Father Christmas still survive and can be found by the determined antiquer.
One type of Victorian Christmas tree ornaments that are rather hard to come by these days are velvet ribbons. Crimson colored velvet ribbons were prized tree ornaments, and were placed decoratively throughout the Christmas tree. Velvet does not last well over time, so if you are lucky enough to find any examples of these antique Christmas tree ornaments in a shop, chances are they will need some restoration.
Thus, it might be easier just to visit a fabric supply shop and get some new velvet for your Christmas decorations and ornaments. In fact, if you or someone you know can sew, you can purchase a piece of velvet, cut some strips out of it, then just sew the sides, and you’ve just made your own velvet ribbons. Whichever method you choose, the key is to have fun decorating your Christmas tree! Remember the Internet always has websites available that can help you with any and all of your holiday decorating ideas.
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