by Olivia Bell Buehl, Christopher Radko Availability: Usually ships within 24 hours.
Hardcover - 144 pages 1 Ed edition (September 1999) When his family's Christmas tree stand collapsed, shattering their collection of 2,000 vintage European glass ornaments, Christopher Radko suffered a double loss. Not only were the irreplaceable treasures gone, but with them vanished a tangible link to past holidays and warm memories of family and friends. Searching for replacements, he realized they were difficult to find, and began a business that almost single-handedly revived the all-but-forgotten European tradition of mouth-blown, hand-painted glass ornaments. Now hundreds of these "memories in the making," as Christopher calls them, are on display in Christopher Radko's Ornaments, the first book devoted to all fourteen years of his delightful designs.
Each chapter is dedicated to a different category of ornament, from traditional styles to new ones inspired by the world's far-flung cultures, from jolly representations of Santa in all his guises to charming depictions of people, food, and animals of holiday lore. Throughout the book, sidebars offer an array of Christopher's own tips on how to light and trim a tree and decorate the entire house with ornaments, as well as fascinating information on the ornaments themselves. Lavishly illustrated with more than 275 full-color photographs and packed with personal anecdotes, Christopher Radko's Ornaments captures the heart of Christmas and encourages us to celebrate its message of giving and caring, one ornament at a time.
From the Back Cover "Christopher's ornaments are so beautiful. They bring magic to my tree every year."
-- Elizabeth Taylor

"If it doesn't say Christopher Radko, it just isn't Christmas."
-- Whoopi Goldberg

"Christopher's work is unmistakably the best. It gives us the feeling of the true spirit of Christmas--sharing, loving, and joy."
-- Robert and Grace De Niro

"The ornaments designed by Christopher lift our spirits, making a difference in the lives they touch."
-- Elton John


Great illustrations, excellent information Reviewer: A reader from Oregon September 23, 1999 CHRISTOPHER RADKO'S ORNAMENTS tells the history of Radko and his ornament business. Almost single-handedly, according to author Olivia Bell Buehl, Radko brought back the mouth-blown, hand-painted ornaments back to the American Chrstmas tree. Any one who collects Christmas tree ornaments, or who would like to will find this book informative. Each chapter describes one aspect of the design and manufacture of ornaments. Illustrations are used thematically in each chapter. These include Santa Claus, snowmen, and finials. Each ornament is listed in the index by name and serial number, to allow a reader to find it on the primary or secondary market. Ideas for the ligting of the tree, use of ornaments in bowls, on mantles, around pictures or windows fill the book with ideas which a person could decorate any room, even a hospital room for the bed bound at Chrstmas time. The information is concise, though the writing style tends not to be as exacting, depending on the paraphrased quote, rather than the author's own thoughts. Anyone who enjoys Christmas ornaments, who enjoys Christmas, and who wants some new and different decorating ideas should add this book to their library.