Edition: English | 中文简体 | 中文繁体 Монгол
Homepage > Culture Video

Over a century of handmade glass decorations

CCTV.com

11-29-2016 01:13 BJT

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, how lovely are your branches and let's not forget about your decorations! It's that time of the year again, and decoration makers are burning the midnight oil to get their creations ready for Christmas trees. We take a look now at a glass factory in Russia that has been producing traditional handmade baubles for nearly 130 years.

They're a blast from the past, but these Soviet-themed Christmas decorations are still cherished today.

Planes, airships, stars, cosmonauts, hunters and militar y men promoted the Soviet way of life in old Russia.

Today, they are valuable collectors' items, often bought and sold by private collectors. And this collection is at the "Yolochka" factory on the outskirts of Moscow, which is still making decorations today.

It

It's that time of the year again, and decoration makers are burning the midnight oil to get their creations ready for Christmas trees.

And though it's cold outside, things are really heating up in here as a new generation of workers use glass blowing techniques to create new decorations in unique styles.

Balls, pines, bears, as well as conical or star shape tree tops are made by melting the glass with a flame, which is then blown into shape.

It's a process that hasn't changed much since this factory was first established in the 19th century.

It takes half a year for a newbie to go through training and get the technique down right. Decoration maker Ekaterina Khorkina says experience is essential.

"I think this is work for a designer. We are dressing the tree. We are making an outfit for it. We are dressing it for the New Year celebration. We are making a fairytale," said Ekaterina Khorkina, decoration maker.

The process may look simple, but she says that it takes a lot of effort and concentration.

"It is tough. It is very tough. The work is very tough. When you look at the production and you think that it is that easy. But the blowing out is very tough," she said.

Once the differently formed decorations are ready, they are placed on a frame, which is then placed into a high temperature furnace.

Decoration factory executive Vladimir Simanovich says there is a long history of traditional glass decorations.

"The next year our factory will celebrate 130 years of the craft of blowing glass decorations. In 1887, here in this Klinsk district, we opened the first glass factory. And from that date we begin our history," said Vladimir Simanovich, factory executive.

After the glass has cooled down from the furnace, more fun awaits: The decorations are now ready to be painted.

A creative team develops new designs every year, which will then be approved by the experts from the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia - a system that has been in place since the Soviet time.

Each piece gets hours of attention, as a team of artists will hand paint the glass sculptures with different scenes and patterns ready for even the most exclusive Christmas tree.

Follow us on

  • Please scan the QR Code to follow us on Instagram

  • Please scan the QR Code to follow us on Wechat