Glass baubles

Why glass

A glass bauble has a depth of colour and a reflection that plastic cannot copy: light goes into the glass and comes back out, so a red glass sphere glows where a red plastic one shines. Glass is also heavier, so it hangs still, and it is the kind of decoration people keep for twenty years and hand on. These are bought a few at a time rather than by the box, which is why they are listed singly.

The designs

The shaped pieces are the ones people come for: the Red Glass Postbox, the Big Ben decoration, the mini houses with a Christmas tree on the roof, robins, and the onion drops that come in rainbow, red, blue and gold. The plain spheres and the swirl-glitter designs are for filling the tree between the feature pieces. Red (12), blue (12), gold (10) and white (7) are the main colours, with a long tail of single designs.

Hanging glass safely

Hang glass on the inner branches where the branch is thick enough to hold the hook firmly, at adult eye level and above, and keep the shatterproof baubles for the lower third of the tree. Use a wire hook rather than string so the bauble sits against the branch. Store each piece in its box or in a divided bauble case; glass pieces loose in a bag will chip each other.

Pairing with lights

Warm white LEDs bring out red, gold and amber glass. Cool white suits blue, silver and clear glass. Place a bauble near an LED rather than on it; the light should come through the glass from behind.