Hot Air Balloon Shaped Christmas Ornament

Holiday or Christmas ornament, in the shape of an aerostat or hot air balloon. Free-blown glass, unsilvered, pink balloon shape at top of ornament, with smaller, milky-white balloon shape at bottom, connected by long thin tube with glossy scrap paper putti attached. Paper was likely cut from a print. The entire ornament is wrapped in crinkle wire and thin coils. Metal cap attached at top with brown string tied for hanger. No mark. A reflection of the rise in popularity of hot air ballooning in the United States and Europe during the second half of the nineteenth century. This became a standard form of ornament produced during that time, into the twentieth century.

Currently not on view