The studio production, overseen by Creative Director Melessa Paynter, utilizes macro cinematography to capture the stages of creation typically hidden from the consumer. The process begins with a clear glass cylinder heated over an open flame until pliable. Artisans then manually blow into the glass to force it into custom-carved, two-part metal molds. This reliance on human lung power ensures that no two pieces are identical, preserving the slight variations that define the brand’s aesthetic.
Old World Christmas Lifts the Veil on Centuries-Old Glassblowing
For nearly 50 years, Old World Christmas has produced heirloom ornaments using techniques rooted in 1800s Germany. Now, the Spokane-based manufacturer is stepping away from the anonymity of the production line, releasing a short film that documents the precise, human-led process of transforming glass tubes into finished keepsakes.
Following the shaping, the glass undergoes a slow cooling process in an annealer to prevent structural cracking. The interior is then treated with a liquid-silver solution, providing the characteristic mirror-like finish before the exterior receives meticulous hand-painting and glitter application. CEO Neal Applefeld noted that the transparency of this process serves to connect customers with the labor-intensive heritage of their collections. The firm, which maintains a catalog of over 2,000 designs, intends the footage to highlight why these ornaments are frequently treated as multi-generational family heirlooms.
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