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Handmade Glass Tree at the Corning Museum

Have you ever encountered a holiday tree not just decorated with, but completely made out of handmade glass ornaments?

If not, consider taking a trip over to the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York. For the past seven years, this prominent glassmaking hub has celebrated the season with a 14-foot tree comprised of no less than 2,000 handmade glass ornaments. No two ornaments are the same, and lights are embedded inside to give the whole structure a festive glow. In a recent Smithsonian feature, Steve Gibbs (senior manager of the museum’s hot glass programs) notes, “We decided to build a tree that takes advantage of what makes glass so magical, which is its ability to refract, reflect, and transmit light.”

The article links to a fun video showing how the ornaments are made, and the Corning Museum even offers classes on how to create your own – a highly attractive alternative to fighting holiday crowds at the mall, in my humble opinion.

Best wishes for a peaceful holiday season!