vintage gold yellow crackle glass Christmas ornament in the kugel style

vintage gold crackle glass Christmas ornament in the kugel style These are known for their heavy weight and a unique finish where the glass appears cracked or crazed. Style: It is a Kugel-style ornament, a term often associated with antique, heavy German glass Christmas decorations that were popular from the mid-19th century onward. Material and Finish: The ornament is made of thick glass, sometimes referred to as "mercury glass" due to an interior silvering process, which has a crackle finish. This finish, along with bright coloring, gives it a vintage and reflective appearance. Function: While today they are purely decorative Christmas ornaments, some sources suggest that the modern glass ball ornament is a descendant of the older "witch ball" tradition. Originating in 17th and 18th-century England, witch balls were hollow glass spheres hung in windows to ward off evil spirits and ill fortune. The bright colors and inner glass strands were thought to attract and trap negative energy.