Radko Shiny

Radko Shiny

An American businessman named Max Eckardt introduced Christmas tree decorations imported from Germany to the US around 1907. The ornaments consisted mostly of small hand-blown glass balls that were colorfully decorated. Late in the 1930s though, it was plain to Eckardt that the oncoming war was going to disrupt his supplies. So he made a business arrangement with the Corning Glass Company that got them started on Christmas ornament production in their light bulb plants. Corning started making the glass ornaments after adapting their own light bulb manufacturing process and proceeded to ship ornaments to both Woolworth's stores and to Eckardt's factories where the plain ornaments could be further adorned by hand after being machine-lacquered.

As the wartime shortages increased, making both lacquer and silver difficult to come by, Eckardt started having the ornaments decorated in pastels and bright colors. As a result, Shiny Brite ornaments became very popular because of their uniqueness and soon become a staple of every family's Christmas trees. By the end of the war, Shiny Brite was the largest manufacturer of Christmas ornaments in the world and the popularity of the ornaments raged on into the 1950s.

Shiny Brite stopped making and selling the glass balls in 1962 because of production disruption and because of the changing business landscape and moved into the production of plastic ornaments, which never proved to be as popular. But now that we are in the 21st century, demand for the original vintage glass ornaments has shot up and you'll find many "Shiny Brite" ornaments all over Ebay.

One thing to keep in mind though when shopping on Ebay for these ornaments is that many sellers and buyers seem to think that "Shiny Brite" refers to a type of ornament rather than a specific brand name. So if you are looking specifically for ornaments made by Max Eckardt's company, you might want to do a little digging into the auctions.

In addition to the vintage Shiny Brite Christmas ornaments available at antique shops, flea markets and online, Christopher Radko started making reproductions of the ornaments around 2001 and you'll find those on Ebay as well. Generally though you don't have to worry about the Radko reproductions being passed off as the vintage ornaments because Radko's ornaments are collectible in their own right. Also, Radko's ornaments are made in Europe and all of the original Shiny Brite's were of American manufacture.

If you love to collect vintage ornaments, you can find great buys on the original vintage Shiny Brite ornaments as well as the wonderful collectible Christopher Radko ornaments.

Emma Martin loves vintage collectibles, especially Halloween and Christmas decorations. You can visit her website at: http://www.retroholiday.com/

Shiny robot $10 Shiny robot

Shiny Mountain $10 Shiny Mountain

Shiny Dragon $10 Shiny Dragon

Shiny Star $10 Shiny Star

Shiny Skull $10 Shiny Skull

Shiny Leaves $10 Shiny Leaves

Shiny Hexagon $10 Shiny Hexagon

Shiny Hearts $6 Shiny Hearts

Shiny Shoes $12.49 Shiny Shoes

Christopher Radko Glass House Of Sweets Gingerbread Christmas Ornament #1015484 $52 Christopher Radko House Of Sweets Candy Cane Gingerbread Christmas OrnamentItem #1015484The Christopher Radko Company has been designing and producing fine European mouth-blown glass ornaments for more than a quarter of a centuryOrnaments are produced in Europe by a seasoned team of artists and craftsmen, many of whom have been with the company since its very inception. Each piece is meticulously crafted by hand, using Renaissance-era carving, molding, glass blowing, silver lining, hand painting and finishing processes that require both unparalleled skill and several weeks to completeExquisite workmanship and handcrafted details are the hallmark of all Christopher Radko creations. Bring warmth, color and sparkle into your home as you celebrate life’s heartfelt connections. More than just an ornament, a Christopher Radko ornament is a work of heart!Dimensions: 6.5"H x 3"WMaterial(s): glassComes ready-to-hang with a gold hang tag and charmOrnament comes gift boxed Type: Ornaments Color: Multi-Color

Christopher Radko Glass Bavarian Bash Oktoberfest Christmas Ornament #1015594 $55 Christopher Radko Bavarian Bash Christmas OrnamentItem #1015594The Christopher Radko Company has been designing and producing fine European mouth-blown glass ornaments for more than a quarter of a centuryOrnaments are produced in Europe by a seasoned team of artists and craftsmen, many of whom have been with the company since its very inception. Each piece is meticulously crafted by hand, using Renaissance-era carving, molding, glass blowing, silver lining, hand painting and finishing processes that require both unparalleled skill and several weeks to completeExquisite workmanship and handcrafted details are the hallmark of all Christopher Radko creations. Bring warmth, color and sparkle into your home as you celebrate life’s heartfelt connections. More than just an ornament, a Christopher Radko ornament is a work of heart!Dimensions: 6"H x 3.75"WMaterial(s): glassComes ready-to-hang with a gold hang tag and charmOrnament comes gift boxed Type: Ornaments Color: Red

Christopher Radko Fashionably Festive Animal Print Christmas Ornament #1015761 $49 Christopher Radko Fashionably Festive Sack of Gifts Christmas OrnamentItem #1015761The Christopher Radko Company has been designing and producing fine European mouth-blown glass ornaments for more than a quarter of a centuryOrnaments are produced in Europe by a seasoned team of artists and craftsmen, many of whom have been with the company since its very inception. Each piece is meticulously crafted by hand, using Renaissance-era carving, molding, glass blowing, silver lining, hand painting and finishing processes that require both unparalleled skill and several weeks to completeExquisite workmanship and handcrafted details are the hallmark of all Christopher Radko creations. Bring warmth, color and sparkle into your home as you celebrate life’s heartfelt connections. More than just an ornament, a Christopher Radko ornament is a work of heart!Dimensions: 6.5"H x 4.25"WMaterial(s): glassComes ready-to-hang with a gold hang tag and charmOrnament comes gift boxed Type: Ornaments Color: Orange

Christopher Radko Glass Beautiful Bride Wedding Dress Christmas Ornament 1015317 $49 Christopher Radko Beautiful Bride Wedding Gown Christmas OrnamentItem #1015317The Christopher Radko Company has been designing and producing fine European mouth-blown glass ornaments for more than a quarter of a centuryOrnaments are produced in Europe by a seasoned team of artists and craftsmen, many of whom have been with the company since its very inception. Each piece is meticulously crafted by hand, using Renaissance-era carving, molding, glass blowing, silver lining, hand painting and finishing processes that require both unparalleled skill and several weeks to completeExquisite workmanship and handcrafted details are the hallmark of all Christopher Radko creations. Bring warmth, color and sparkle into your home as you celebrate life’s heartfelt connections. More than just an ornament, a Christopher Radko ornament is a work of heart!Dimensions: 6.5"H x 4"WMaterial(s): glassComes ready-to-hang with a gold hang tag and charmOrnament comes gift boxed Type: Ornaments Color: White

Christopher Radko Glass Bells A Ringing Gem Christmas Tree Ornament #1015645 $25 Christopher Radko Bells A Ringing Gem Christmas OrnamentItem #1015645The Christopher Radko Company has been designing and producing fine European mouth-blown glass ornaments for more than a quarter of a centuryOrnaments are produced in Europe by a seasoned team of artists and craftsmen, many of whom have been with the company since its very inception. Each piece is meticulously crafted by hand, using Renaissance-era carving, molding, glass blowing, silver lining, hand painting and finishing processes that require both unparalleled skill and several weeks to completeExquisite workmanship and handcrafted details are the hallmark of all Christopher Radko creations. Bring warmth, color and sparkle into your home as you celebrate life’s heartfelt connections. More than just an ornament, a Christopher Radko ornament is a work of heart!Dimensions: 3.75"H x 2"WMaterial(s): glassComes ready-to-hang with a gold hang tag and charmOrnament comes gift boxed Type: Ornaments Color: Green

Christopher Radko Glass Chateau-A-Glow Christmas Ornament #1014894 $49 Christopher Radko Chateau-A-Glow Christmas OrnamentItem #1014894The Christopher Radko Company has been designing and producing fine European mouth-blown glass ornaments for more than a quarter of a centuryOrnaments are produced in Europe by a seasoned team of artists and craftsmen, many of whom have been with the company since its very inception. Each piece is meticulously crafted by hand, using Renaissance-era carving, molding, glass blowing, silver lining, hand painting and finishing processes that require both unparalleled skill and several weeks to completeExquisite workmanship and handcrafted details are the hallmark of all Christopher Radko creations. Bring warmth, color and sparkle into your home as you celebrate life’s heartfelt connections. More than just an ornament, a Christopher Radko ornament is a work of heart!Dimensions: 6.5"H x 4.75"WMaterial(s): glassComes ready-to-hang with a gold hang tag and charmOrnament comes gift boxed Type: Ornaments Color: Multi-Color

Christopher Radko Glass Christmas Caller Gem Santa Holiday Ornament #1015640 $29 Christopher Radko Christmas Caller Gem OrnamentItem #1015640The Christopher Radko Company has been designing and producing fine European mouth-blown glass ornaments for more than a quarter of a centuryOrnaments are produced in Europe by a seasoned team of artists and craftsmen, many of whom have been with the company since its very inception. Each piece is meticulously crafted by hand, using Renaissance-era carving, molding, glass blowing, silver lining, hand painting and finishing processes that require both unparalleled skill and several weeks to completeExquisite workmanship and handcrafted details are the hallmark of all Christopher Radko creations. Bring warmth, color and sparkle into your home as you celebrate life’s heartfelt connections. More than just an ornament, a Christopher Radko ornament is a work of heart!Dimensions: 4"H x 2"WMaterial(s): glassComes ready-to-hang with a gold hang tag and charmOrnament comes gift boxed Type: Ornaments Color: Red

Christopher Radko Glass Ginger Bell with Bow Christmas Ornament #1015428 $52 Christopher Radko Ginger Bell Christmas OrnamentItem #1015248The Christopher Radko Company has been designing and producing fine European mouth-blown glass ornaments for more than a quarter of a centuryOrnaments are produced in Europe by a seasoned team of artists and craftsmen, many of whom have been with the company since its very inception. Each piece is meticulously crafted by hand, using Renaissance-era carving, molding, glass blowing, silver lining, hand painting and finishing processes that require both unparalleled skill and several weeks to completeExquisite workmanship and handcrafted details are the hallmark of all Christopher Radko creations. Bring warmth, color and sparkle into your home as you celebrate life’s heartfelt connections. More than just an ornament, a Christopher Radko ornament is a work of heart!Dimensions: 7"H x 3.75"WMaterial(s): glassComes ready-to-hang with a gold hang tag and charmOrnament comes gift boxed Type: Ornaments Color: Multi-Color

Christopher Radko Glass Ivory Glow Lantern Christmas Ornament #1015600 $52 Christopher Radko Ivory Glow Lantern Christmas OrnamentItem #1015600The Christopher Radko Company has been designing and producing fine European mouth-blown glass ornaments for more than a quarter of a centuryOrnaments are produced in Europe by a seasoned team of artists and craftsmen, many of whom have been with the company since its very inception. Each piece is meticulously crafted by hand, using Renaissance-era carving, molding, glass blowing, silver lining, hand painting and finishing processes that require both unparalleled skill and several weeks to completeExquisite workmanship and handcrafted details are the hallmark of all Christopher Radko creations. Bring warmth, color and sparkle into your home as you celebrate life’s heartfelt connections. More than just an ornament, a Christopher Radko ornament is a work of heart!Dimensions: 8"H x 2.5"WMaterial(s): glassComes ready-to-hang with a gold hang tag and charmOrnament comes gift boxed Type: Ornaments Color: Multi-Color

Christopher Radko Glass Marvelous Menorah Hanukkah Christmas Ornament #1015730 $49 Christopher Radko Marvelous Menorah Christmas OrnamentItem #1015730The Christopher Radko Company has been designing and producing fine European mouth-blown glass ornaments for more than a quarter of a centuryOrnaments are produced in Europe by a seasoned team of artists and craftsmen, many of whom have been with the company since its very inception. Each piece is meticulously crafted by hand, using Renaissance-era carving, molding, glass blowing, silver lining, hand painting and finishing processes that require both unparalleled skill and several weeks to completeExquisite workmanship and handcrafted details are the hallmark of all Christopher Radko creations. Bring warmth, color and sparkle into your home as you celebrate life’s heartfelt connections. More than just an ornament, a Christopher Radko ornament is a work of heart!Dimensions: 6.25"H x 3.75"WMaterial(s): glassComes ready-to-hang with a gold hang tag and charmOrnament comes gift boxed Type: Ornaments Color: Gold

Christopher Radko Glass Jolly Jogger Santa Christmas Ornament #1015518 $45 Christopher Radko Jolly Jogger Christmas OrnamentItem #1015518The Christopher Radko Company has been designing and producing fine European mouth-blown glass ornaments for more than a quarter of a centuryOrnaments are produced in Europe by a seasoned team of artists and craftsmen, many of whom have been with the company since its very inception. Each piece is meticulously crafted by hand, using Renaissance-era carving, molding, glass blowing, silver lining, hand painting and finishing processes that require both unparalleled skill and several weeks to completeExquisite workmanship and handcrafted details are the hallmark of all Christopher Radko creations. Bring warmth, color and sparkle into your home as you celebrate life’s heartfelt connections. More than just an ornament, a Christopher Radko ornament is a work of heart!Dimensions: 7"H x 3"WMaterial(s): glassComes ready-to-hang with a gold hang tag and charmOrnament comes gift boxed Type: Ornaments Color: Red

Christopher Radko Glass Merlot Merriment Wine Santa Christmas Ornament #1015572 $55 Christopher Radko Merlot Merriment Christmas OrnamentItem #1015572The Christopher Radko Company has been designing and producing fine European mouth-blown glass ornaments for more than a quarter of a centuryOrnaments are produced in Europe by a seasoned team of artists and craftsmen, many of whom have been with the company since its very inception. Each piece is meticulously crafted by hand, using Renaissance-era carving, molding, glass blowing, silver lining, hand painting and finishing processes that require both unparalleled skill and several weeks to completeExquisite workmanship and handcrafted details are the hallmark of all Christopher Radko creations. Bring warmth, color and sparkle into your home as you celebrate life’s heartfelt connections. More than just an ornament, a Christopher Radko ornament is a work of heart!Dimensions: 7"H x 4"WMaterial(s): glassComes ready-to-hang with a gold hang tag and charmOrnament comes gift boxed Type: Ornaments Color: Purple

Christopher Radko Glass Bridal Bliss Wedding Cake Christmas Ornament #1015307 $49 Christopher Radko Bridal Bliss Christmas OrnamentItem #1015307The Christopher Radko Company has been designing and producing fine European mouth-blown glass ornaments for more than a quarter of a centuryOrnaments are produced in Europe by a seasoned team of artists and craftsmen, many of whom have been with the company since its very inception. Each piece is meticulously crafted by hand, using Renaissance-era carving, molding, glass blowing, silver lining, hand painting and finishing processes that require both unparalleled skill and several weeks to completeExquisite workmanship and handcrafted details are the hallmark of all Christopher Radko creations. Bring warmth, color and sparkle into your home as you celebrate life’s heartfelt connections. More than just an ornament, a Christopher Radko ornament is a work of heart!Dimensions: 6.75"H x 4.25"WMaterial(s): glassComes ready-to-hang with a gold hang tag and charmOrnament comes gift boxed Type: Ornaments Color: White

Christopher Radko Glass Celtic Christmas Cross Irish Holiday Ornament #1015402 $52 Christopher Radko Celtic Christmas Irish OrnamentItem #1015402The Christopher Radko Company has been designing and producing fine European mouth-blown glass ornaments for more than a quarter of a centuryOrnaments are produced in Europe by a seasoned team of artists and craftsmen, many of whom have been with the company since its very inception. Each piece is meticulously crafted by hand, using Renaissance-era carving, molding, glass blowing, silver lining, hand painting and finishing processes that require both unparalleled skill and several weeks to completeExquisite workmanship and handcrafted details are the hallmark of all Christopher Radko creations. Bring warmth, color and sparkle into your home as you celebrate life’s heartfelt connections. More than just an ornament, a Christopher Radko ornament is a work of heart!Dimensions: 6.5"H x 4"WMaterial(s): glassComes ready-to-hang with a gold hang tag and charmOrnament comes gift boxed Type: Ornaments Color: Green

Christopher Radko Glass Holiday Centerpiece Christmas Tree Ornament #1015580 $55 Christopher Radko Holiday Centerpiece Christmas OrnamentItem #1015580The Christopher Radko Company has been designing and producing fine European mouth-blown glass ornaments for more than a quarter of a centuryOrnaments are produced in Europe by a seasoned team of artists and craftsmen, many of whom have been with the company since its very inception. Each piece is meticulously crafted by hand, using Renaissance-era carving, molding, glass blowing, silver lining, hand painting and finishing processes that require both unparalleled skill and several weeks to completeExquisite workmanship and handcrafted details are the hallmark of all Christopher Radko creations. Bring warmth, color and sparkle into your home as you celebrate life’s heartfelt connections. More than just an ornament, a Christopher Radko ornament is a work of heart!Dimensions: 8"H x 5"WMaterial(s): glass/plasticComes ready-to-hang with a gold hang tag and charmOrnament comes gift boxed Type: Ornaments Color: Green

Christopher Radko Glass King David's Dreidel Hanukkah Holiday Ornament #1015144 $45 Christopher Radko King David's Dreidel Holiday OrnamentItem #1015144The Christopher Radko Company has been designing and producing fine European mouth-blown glass ornaments for more than a quarter of a centuryOrnaments are produced in Europe by a seasoned team of artists and craftsmen, many of whom have been with the company since its very inception. Each piece is meticulously crafted by hand, using Renaissance-era carving, molding, glass blowing, silver lining, hand painting and finishing processes that require both unparalleled skill and several weeks to completeExquisite workmanship and handcrafted details are the hallmark of all Christopher Radko creations. Bring warmth, color and sparkle into your home as you celebrate life’s heartfelt connections. More than just an ornament, a Christopher Radko ornament is a work of heart!Dimensions: 6.5"H x 2.75"WMaterial(s): glassComes ready-to-hang with a gold hang tag and charmOrnament comes gift boxed Type: Ornaments Color: Blue

Christopher Radko Glass First Class Claus Santa Christmas Ornament #1015516 $49 Christopher Radko First Class Claus Christmas OrnamentItem #1015516The Christopher Radko Company has been designing and producing fine European mouth-blown glass ornaments for more than a quarter of a centuryOrnaments are produced in Europe by a seasoned team of artists and craftsmen, many of whom have been with the company since its very inception. Each piece is meticulously crafted by hand, using Renaissance-era carving, molding, glass blowing, silver lining, hand painting and finishing processes that require both unparalleled skill and several weeks to completeExquisite workmanship and handcrafted details are the hallmark of all Christopher Radko creations. Bring warmth, color and sparkle into your home as you celebrate life’s heartfelt connections. More than just an ornament, a Christopher Radko ornament is a work of heart!Dimensions: 7"H x 6"WMaterial(s): glassComes ready-to-hang with a gold hang tag and charmOrnament comes gift boxed Type: Ornaments Color: White

Christopher Radko Glass Holiday Hat-Full with Gifts Christmas Ornament #1015660 $45 Christopher Radko Holiday Hat-Full Christmas OrnamentItem #1015660The Christopher Radko Company has been designing and producing fine European mouth-blown glass ornaments for more than a quarter of a centuryOrnaments are produced in Europe by a seasoned team of artists and craftsmen, many of whom have been with the company since its very inception. Each piece is meticulously crafted by hand, using Renaissance-era carving, molding, glass blowing, silver lining, hand painting and finishing processes that require both unparalleled skill and several weeks to completeExquisite workmanship and handcrafted details are the hallmark of all Christopher Radko creations. Bring warmth, color and sparkle into your home as you celebrate life’s heartfelt connections. More than just an ornament, a Christopher Radko ornament is a work of heart!Dimensions: 6.25"H x 2.5"WMaterial(s): glassComes ready-to-hang with a gold hang tag and charmOrnament comes gift boxed Type: Ornaments Color: Red

Christopher Radko Glass Holly Leaf Fairy Christmas Ornament #1015567 $55 Christopher Radko Holly Leaf Fairy Christmas OrnamentItem #1015567The Christopher Radko Company has been designing and producing fine European mouth-blown glass ornaments for more than a quarter of a centuryOrnaments are produced in Europe by a seasoned team of artists and craftsmen, many of whom have been with the company since its very inception. Each piece is meticulously crafted by hand, using Renaissance-era carving, molding, glass blowing, silver lining, hand painting and finishing processes that require both unparalleled skill and several weeks to completeExquisite workmanship and handcrafted details are the hallmark of all Christopher Radko creations. Bring warmth, color and sparkle into your home as you celebrate life’s heartfelt connections. More than just an ornament, a Christopher Radko ornament is a work of heart!Dimensions: 5.75"H x 6.75"WMaterial(s): glass/plasticComes ready-to-hang with a gold hang tag and charmOrnament comes gift boxed Type: Ornaments Color: Multi-Color