Recently I had a chance to talk with John Lightner about his collection and his recently published book, Christmas Rarities.
What was the deciding factor in self-publishing your book?
As a long time collector, as well as a photographer, I realized there really wasn't a book that
collectors could use as a reference book for rare ornaments. There wasn't a cohesive, easy-to-use
book with reference numbers and separate categories with different molds, all in one location for
easy viewing.
My main goals were to find as many of the "rare" ornaments that are out there, find the stuff no one else has seen. I wanted a pictorial depository that would house all these great rare pieces in one place.
I wound up publishing a book with about 1500 ornaments, over 500 have never published before. To accomplish this, I photographed over forty of the rarest collections in the US and Europe.
What interesting things happened during your travels to publish the book?
Two things stand out. First I was amazed that almost every collector had something different
than the other collectors that was rare and that there was such a large variety of rare pieces. I was also surprised
at how many Dresdens were in the collections. There are a lot more Dresdens than anyone imagines.
What advice do you have for collectors that might be new to collecting antique glass ornaments?
- Collectors need to understand to not buy an ornament as an investment. Values fluctuate. Prices can vary greatly for the same ornament. I have seen price swings of hundreds of dollars for the same ornament over a period of six months to a year. Buy an ornament that you love.
- Buy the best quality ornament you can afford. Ornaments with good silvering and good paint retain their value better.
- Be way of buying on eBay. Unless you know the seller, you take a big risk in buying anything you cannot see in person. Pictures do not always show defects and flaws.
- Buy a good book on ornaments. My book is directed to the more experienced collectors, but belongs in the library of any collector. But there are good basic books that show more of the common ornaments.
- Join a club in your own city or a national club.
Kugels were the first known glass ornaments made by the Germans. They were made in different molds, which included grapes, eggs, berries and some other fruit designs. But they were mainly produced as balls which were free-blown in sizes ranging from 1/2" to 30" in diameter.
- The glass is quite heavy, unlike the mold ornaments made today.
- The color is in the glass, as in stained glass windows. They are not painted as the molds are today.
- German Kugels all had brass caps and rings
How many glass pieces are in your collection?
I've had as many as 400 kugels and well over 1000 mold-made ornaments. About 200 examples in the book are mine,
but I didn't always use my ornaments if a better example was available to photograph.
How do you take care of and store your collection?
I store all the really valuable ornaments in bubble bags that I buy from Uline Company and then put
those in another plastic bag. Some people suggest keeping the bag unzipped for air circulation.
Other ornaments I keep in boxes.
Any special way you display your pieces?
I have several trees of different sizes ranging from 18" to 10'. Sometimes I put all my kugels on a tree and sometimes I will put all my extended
leg ornaments on a feather tree, and often I just display everything all on one tree.
And as a final question. Would you ever do a book again?
I would like to add to this book. The collectors have all been extremely pleased with it and
some of the auction houses are using it to categorize their auctions, so I think it is quickly
becoming the standard as a reference book. If there is enough interest in a second book, I would do it.
There are still numerous collections out there with many ornaments not shown in this book.
Next >> Ornament Pictures and Prices from Christmas Rarities
