Manipur Ribbed Glass Baubles - Indigo - Set of 3

A set of three Christmas baubles in blue glass, each about 8cm long and 4cm across, and each a different shape. One is tiered, a small bulb over a larger one with a short pointed finial below; one is a shouldered onion drawn down to a point; the third is a broad faceted cone. All three are fluted from the cap to the tip, and dark, almost black streaks run down through the blue where the glass has taken the colour unevenly. Each hangs from a brown velvet tie looped through a ring on an embossed metal cap.

At 8cm these are large enough to read singly on a full-sized tree rather than needing to be grouped. Hung along a bare branch with lights strung behind it, the fluting breaks the light into vertical lines down each bauble and the dark streaks stay dark. The velvet ties are long enough to loop straight over a branch without a hook, and three of them in a bowl will dress a table as readily as a tree.

The glass is recycled: the waste glass is collected and washed to remove impurities, then crushed and melted down before it is blown, which is what leaves the mottled patterning across every piece. The caps and rings are iron. Manipur also runs in amber, in green and in ruby.

How many baubles are in a set?

Three, and all three are different shapes.

How big are they?

About 8cm long and 4cm across.

What are the hanging ties?

Brown velvet, looped through a ring on the metal cap.

Is the glass recycled?

Yes. The waste glass is collected and washed to remove impurities, then crushed and melted down before it is blown.

Will the three match each other?

Not exactly. Every bauble is blown by hand, so the mottling through the glass differs from one to the next.

How do I look after them?

A dry soft cloth for dust, and careful handling. Keep harsh chemicals and abrasive cleaners off the finish. Indoor use only.