Photography by David B. Moore This rare Shiny Brite was manufactured between 1942 and ’45, when much of the country’s supply of silver nitrate and metal went to the war effort. Ornaments made during this time were clear glass and had cardboard caps.

History, Highlights and Helpful Hints

It is widely believed that the tradition of decorating trees for Christmas began in Germany in the 1600s. As the custom spread, it eventually made its way to the U.S. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, hand-blown glass ornaments produced in Germany and parts of Eastern Europe became popular imports and were carried by retailers, such as the F.W. Woolworth Co. However, as the threat of World War II loomed, U.S. business owners began searching for alternative ways to manufacture ornaments, and the machine-produced American-made version was created.

One such forward-thinking businessman was Max Eckardt, an ornament dealer and owner of Max Eckardt & Sons. He contacted Corning Glass Works in the mid-1930s about fabricating glass decorations, according to documents from Corning Inc. Archives. While the glass company considered these recommendations, it did not begin producing ornaments until it received a request from Woolworth’s in 1939.    
 

Made after World War II, this example features a wide band of glittering silver mica at the top; along the bottom are narrow bands of silver and turquoise mica.

Due to the lack of imported ornaments, and to maximize the efficiency of its machinery, the company quickly began manufacturing ornaments on machines designed to make light bulbs. According to Corning’s archives, it produced more than 200,000 silvered and lacquered ornaments in December 1939, which then were shipped to American firms to be decorated. Max Eckardt & Sons was one of Corning’s clients, and it sold the finished ornaments under the name Shiny Brite.

Paul Folk, owner of Scottsdale’s Rustic Stuff and an avid antique and vintage ornament collector, notes that the term Shiny Brite was derived from the glittering silver nitrate mixture that coated the insides of the decorations. He explains that while Max Eckardt & Sons initially offered simple ball designs usually adorned with stripes, options increased after World War II to include a wider color palette and various styles, such as concave starbursts, bells and tops.

Corning’s archives indicate that in 1959 the company manufactured nearly 100 million decorations, many of which became Shiny Brites. Folk explains that Shiny Brite remained one of the dominant brands in the industry until the mid-20th century, when competition increased and the desire for mass-produced traditional-style glass ornaments faded. Recently, vintage Shiny Brites have become collectible again, and the Christopher Radko Co., a modern-day ornament firm, has released a collection of decorations inspired by the originals.