The history of the Figural Light Globe.

The first usage of light globes to adorn a Christmas tree dates back to 1882, a mere three years after the invention of the incandescent light globe by Thomas Edison.

Journalist William Augustus Croffut visited Edward Johnson and wrote in Detroit Post and Tribune.

“Last evening I walked over beyond Fifth Avenue and called at the residence of Edward H. Johnson, vice-president of Edison's electric company. There, at the rear of the beautiful parlors, was a large Christmas tree, presenting a most picturesque and uncanny aspect. It was brilliantly lighted with many colored globes about as large as an English walnut and was turning some six times a minute on a little pine box. There were eighty lights in all encased in these dainty glass eggs, and about equally divided between white, red and blue. As the tree turned, the colors alternated, all the lamps going out and being relit at every revolution. The result was a continuous twinkling of dancing colors, red, white and blue, all evening.

I need not tell you that the scintillating evergreen was a pretty sight - one can hardly imagine anything prettier. The ceiling was crossed obliquely with two wires on which hung 28 more of the tiny lights; and all the lights and the fantastic tree itself with its starry fruit were kept going by the slight electric current brought from the main office on a filmy wire. The tree was kept revolving by a little hidden crank below the floor which was turned by electricity. It was a superb exhibition.”

By 1895 there was a Christmas tree with electric lighting in the White House By 1901 light strings were being advertised in many publications.

In the early 1900s globes were being made in various shapes in Europe, principally Germany and Austria. They were hand made using clear glass, hand blown and painted by artisans. Many examples still exist, although time, and the heat of the globes has caused the paint to fade and peel.

Some references say manufacturing ceased in the early 1950’s, others have the companies that made the globes going broke in the early 1960’s, although some certainly still exist today. Regardless, in Australia my father was able to buy them in smaller quantities into the early 60s, with them gradually being replaced by plain, boring, colored globes.

After WW1 the Japanese experimented with and further developed milk glass. It was thicker and cooler, and being already white enabled more intricate painting and patterns. Many refences also mention that much of the painting was done by children.

Over the years, as people and countries became more affluent and labour markets became more regulated prices rose to the point where figural globes became too expensive for the general populace to afford.

This made way for the gaudy, mass produced, Christmas Lights we see today.

For further reading have a look at

https://www.amazon.com.au/History-Christmas-Figural-Light-Bulb/dp/097854448X/