The Golden Glow of Christmas

In our household, we have always decorated an evergreen tree for the years we celebrate Christmas at home.  My family and I enjoy the scent and appearance of real trees, excitedly brought into the house a week or so before Christmas day, and trimmed shortly thereafter with my ever-expanding collection of vintage glass ornaments.  Aside from the tree, various seasonal evergreen boughs are tucked within the tops of picture frames and mirrors, or hung in garlands around the front door.  Of course no Christmas is complete without a few wreaths of fragrant laurel or cedar.

As we shall be far from home during the Christmas holidays this year, we have opted to forgo our traditional evergreen tree and instead decorate only our small ivory colored goose feather one.  I purchased the tree about fifteen years ago, when I came across a catalog by The Feather Tree Co., a small American family-owned business that makes replicas of German goose feather trees by hand. These artificial trees were popular Christmas items in nineteenth century Germany and offered a solution to the rampant problem of deforestation.  A few years after my daughter was born, I ordered a second feather tree so that she too should have one to use in her own home when her time comes to fly the coop.  I'm so glad I did as the husband and wife team who labor over their creations recently announced their retirement and are no longer supplying their happy customers with these enchanting diminutive heirloom-worthy trees.

Our feather tree takes pride of place in the drawing room this year

Photo: Chronica Domus

We dressed the tree in shades of gold, silver, and green, and used a selection of ornaments in the form of pine cones, berries, and nuts.

A vintage glass walnut appears quite realistic

Photo: Chronica Domus

I've long had a weakness for pine cone ornaments and have collected quite a number of them in various designs and sizes over the years.  I have found little plump squat ones and slender elongated examples, dusted with crushed glass so that the cones twinkle when caught in just the right light. I am especially fond of those made during the 1940's in occupied Japan, and have found those in the colors you see upon our tree, as well as in vibrant turquoise and pink.  I adore how they are embellished with white paint to simulate freshly fallen snow.

Golden Japanese pine cones and green 

berries drip from feather boughs

Photo: Chronica Domus

Yet more pine cones fill a Paris porcelain punch bowl in a corner of the drawing room, collected on my walks and coated in clear glitter affording them a frosty appearance

Photo: Chronica Domus

To continue the color theme, I placed several variously sized balls in a pair of Anglo-Irish cut glass footed bowls either side of the tree.  I love the way they look grouped together. 

Photo: Chronica Domus

I'm not certain what these little snowball-like ornaments are supposed to be, but I think them quite charming.  They are made of spun cotton and crushed glass which makes them glisten in the candlelight.  They remind me of the icy snowballs I used to hurl at my sisters when we were all rather silly girls playing in the snow outside our house in Kent.  In fact, we are still rather silly girls, but a little older and possibly a little wiser, but that is, of course, debatable once you've come to know us.

Hmmm... I see a snowball fight coming

Photo: Chronica Domus

Our tree has been placed in a nineteenth century black basalt bucket-shaped vessel that I found in England.  I've not seen another quite like it and don't exactly know what it's intended purpose is.  It is so large, one could chill a bottle of champagne in it.

To secure the tree firmly in place, I filled the vessel with an assortment of real silvered walnuts and pine cones.  I think they look marvelous alongside their glass imitators.

Silvered walnuts and pine cones fill a black basalt vessel

Photo: Chronica Domus

A dainty silvery-grey satin ribbon, a trio of miniature glass balls, and a home-made pipe cleaner star crown the top of this year's tree.

Photo: Chronica Domus

But wait a minute, aren't you all wondering about those small wax candles attached to the tree's branches by the little tin clips?

To light, or not to light, that is the question 

Photo: Chronica Domus

Yes, I must confess, it would be a huge thrill for this author if she were to see our little confection of a tree all aglow in candlelight.  However, in the interest of marital harmony, I have promised my dear husband that I shall refrain from my pyrotechnic fantasies and keep the matchsticks far away from the candles.

Alas, the only allowable flames are those that flicker from our blazing fireplace

Photo: Chronica Domus

Except, that is, for maybe... just... this... one.

Photo: Chronica Domus

Wherever you may find yourself this Christmas, I wish you and yours glad tidings and a very merry Christmas.