Manufacturer: Czechoslovakia Ornaments

Nice vintage Christmas tree ornament, marked on metal cap with "Czechoslovakia" so it was made in that country before the country was split on January 1, 1993 into the Czech Republic and Slovakia (but we can't tell you exactly how long before that this was made). We would call this shape to be a basket due to the cross-hatching on the lower 2/3rds of the ornament, with some sort of fruit inside that appears hanging over the top on the side edges. There are two lines of white mica glitter at what would be the top and bottom edges of the basket, going around the full ornament (except for where the blue fruit, perhaps grapes, are hanging over the edges). There is also some blue mica glitter on some of the blue fruit. On each side there is a large roundish red/gold fruit at the center top with other silver bumpy fruit around it. There is a raised pointy pontil mark at the center of the underside base of the basket ornament.

Old Xmas fruit basket mercury glass ornament measures about 2 3/4 inches in greatest width, 1 3/4 inches in greatest depth and 2 3/4 inches from the top of the cap (not round hanger) to bottom of the basket. We've provided 8 images to try and show from all sides/angles, holding the ornament and laying it on a table, and in differing lighting. Please note that you can see some "white hot spots" from the camera lighting and perhaps some yellow/orange reflection spots from the room overhead lighting in some of the images. Also, in a few images it may look like there could be some glass missing near the cap on the ornament. This is not the case...there are no chips or cracks. It's just that, as explained below, there are areas where the top paint has worn away just leaving the silver showing from underneath, so in some photos the lighting may be reflecting off this silver coloring in a manner that can be confusing.

While this has a great look, it came out of a home where it was used, is not new and does show use/age wear. There are no chips or cracks. The surface paint has crazing lines, with areas (visible in images) where the outer frosted silver paint/covering is gone/worn away/flaked off to show the bright silver coloring underneath. This also occurs in the blue areas (now showing silver among the blue). Please note that some of the silver frosted and blue paint areas are continuing to flake when this piece is handled. The white line mica glitter areas look very good but it is possible that some has worn away that we are not seeing (but, if so, it's not bad). There is some occasional mica/blue glitter on the blue areas but we can't tell here whether some is missing or not. Likely has other use/surface wear but nothing jumps out at us. Cap and hanger can be lifted up. When do so, can see that glass top edge (hidden under cap) is not totally smooth/even, so perhaps there is some slight chipping at the neck top edge but nothing bad nor anything that can be seen with the cap on. As made, the center of the cap has a hole open to the air, through which the hanger portion extends (such that this ball is not "sealed, air tight" as those with kugel type caps are).

Would look bright decorating any Christmas tree and be a nice addition to any collection of Czechoslovakian glass ornaments.

Please note that this item, while light weight, will need to be shipped via U.S.P.S. Priority Mail in order to use a box with sufficient protection enroute. We have listed other antique and vintage Christmas tree ornaments. If you are interested in purchasing more than one we'd be pleased to pack them together in one box to save you on shipping. Please contact us prior to placing the order since the system is set up to calculate shipping based on only one listing and will not automatically provide you the combined shipping discounted price (we will need to calculate that for you).

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