ORNAMENTS HAVE AN INTERESTING HISTORY

CAPE GIRARDEAU - The Christmas season for 1990 is ending. Before packing the ornaments and other decorations give some thought to why certain things have remained popular for many years, and continue to be used in homes and public places.

When tin became available, it was the fashion to handcut a piece of tin in the shape of a star for the top of the tree. It caught the light from candles and represented the Star of Bethlehem. When electric lights became available and replaced the dangerous wax candles instead of the star individuals began to use angels at the top of the tree. These were fluffy gowns and had net or feathers for wings.

Marzipan figures were another old confection made in Europe and shaped into fruits, vegetables, figures, and ornaments. They were made of almond paste, sugar, milk, and egg white plus food coloring, and were edible. Usually they are boxed in small baskets, boxes or pretty containers and sold in candy shops, but sometimes grocery stores carry them during the holidays.

Eugene Frohes, a German-Russian immigrant, who resided in St. Louis and came to the United States when a young man from a village 500 miles southeast of Leningrad. He made delicious and very attractive marzipan decorations. He also made sugar cookie tree ornaments that were painted with watercolors decorations.

He died about 1975 at the age of 100, but before his death taught this almost lost art to a niece who for several years continued to make the tree decorations. One year the Governor of Missouri used Mr. Frohes ornaments on the Mansion's Christmas Tree. It was a beautiful sight.

Paper ornaments in silver, gold and other metallic materials and trimmed in tinsel were another old fashioned decoration and popular, as well as inexpensive. Today's reproductions are costly. These were originally made in the Dresdan-Leipsig area between 1880-1910. They are now hard to find because of the delicate workmanship. Sometimes art museums stock them at Christmas.

Tin ornaments were made for trees by toymakers in Nuremberg and were miniature replicas of children's toys. When new they were shiny but any found today that are antique will appear dull and gray. New ones have been reproduced and are found in speciality shops.

The paper cornucopias and small hand woven baskets that were hung on trees and filled with candy and nuts were given as gifts to holiday visitors.

Delicate glass blown ornaments were extremely popular for years and made in Germany in various shapes, from animals to balls and figures. They were brightly colored and so fragile they had to be handled with care. The secret for making these, and the way they were shaped was an art developed by German glass blowers. When World War I began the importation of these ceased, and American manufacturers began to try to duplicate them in man made materials such as plastic and other synthetics.

Some of them were attractive but they lacked the glow of the glass ornaments. Today these old wartime plastic ornaments are collector's items, and difficult to find. F.W. Woolworth was one of the first stores to stock the fragile German glass ornaments. They were made in the town of Lauscha sixty miles north of Nuremberg in the Thuringian mountains. All were cottage-industry in which the entire family took part in making. They included animals, toys, houses, churches, musical instruments, household items, birds with spun glass tails, fish, ships with spun glass, sails, and many other things.

The Fabricous Toy Company formerly on Washington Avenue, in St. Louis, a wholesale house, stocked a large selection of Germany toys and ornaments. It was operated by Henry Herman Fabricous and established in 1861, but discontinued business during the great Depression.

Electric tree lights were used first on a tree belonging to Edward H. Johnson, who resided in New York City. He was an associate of Thomas Alva Edison. They appeared in 1882 and were available in a set of eight lights for $5.00. Before WWI General Electric began to manufacture them. Today they have been improved and are made in Japan and other Eastern countries.

The old-time lights of carbon are difficult to find. They too are collectors items. This year the White House tree that is outdoors is trimmed with 4000 white, electric lights.

Now is the time to purchase very attractive ornaments for a collection when stores reduce the prices of expensive ornaments just before the yearly inventory.

It is an interesting hobby to begin and one that gives pleasure to the family, and adds beauty to a Christmas tree.

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND GOOD COLLECTING.