Antique witch ball

The Christmas ornament shown is an antique mercury glass kugel. Kugels are heavy, thick glass ornaments originally made in Germany from the mid-19th to the early 20th century. Details and Features Material and Manufacturing: Kugels were made of thick, hand-blown glass that was coated on the inside with a silvery solution (often containing a small amount of mercury mixed with other metals) to give it a mirror-like appearance, known as "mercury glass." The exterior was then painted, in this case gold. Shape and Color: Round, gold-colored witch's ball. Mounting: A truly antique kugel typically has a narrow opening at the top with a small, original brass cap, like the one with the loop shown in the photo. Purpose: Although they are now primarily used as Christmas decorations, similar, larger glass spheres called witch balls were hung in windows in England in the 17th and 18th centuries to ward off evil spirits. They look beautiful in a jardiniere in a beautiful antique wooden bowl, or hang them from the base of your chandelier.

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