Friendship Balls

Holiday Ornaments

Kugel Banner Kugel Image

What is a Kugel?

Kugels are commonly referred to as the traditional choice for holiday and year round decoration in central Europe. In the United States, Kugels are referred to as Friendship Balls, however since are glass balls originate from Europe we refer to them as Kugels. Each kugel is hand blown glass, and completely unique. Kugels can be displayed from interior arches, ceiling fixtures, curtain rods, Christmas Trees, holiday garland, hand railings, or wherever you like.


Holiday trees in 1840 were adorned with apples, gilded and natural fruits and nuts, cookies, popcorn and cranberries, as well as homemade paper items, candles, cornucopias, and presents. It was during this decade that the first commercially produced Christmas decorations appeared.  In 1848, the first glass ornament, a kugel, appeared in Germany.  The kugel was a large hollow ball ranging in size from 1 inch to 18 inches.  Smaller ones were used for tree decorations.  The blown, molded, figural glass ornaments that we are familiar with today evolved from the tradition of blowing kugels.  These ornaments were not sold in America until 1880.

Kugel is a German word that means ball and can be used to describe any type of ball-like object.  Collectors used this term to describe any early thick glass ornament with a decorative cap.  Early Kugels were too heavy to hang on tree branches; instead they were suspended from the ceiling.  Soon after their invention, the Germans decided small Kugels should adorn tree boughs.  Shapes such as grapes, berry clusters, apples and pears
became popular.  F. W. Woolworth is given credit for bringing Kugels to America in the 1880s.  His initial investment of $25 turned into sales of at least $25 million worth of Kugels over the next several years.

Kugels Today


In America these glass balls are marketed in many ways.  Witch balls, spirit balls, spirit catchers, friendship balls, gazing balls, wishing balls, and so on.  Each having a little bit of home grown folklore attached to make the item unique or extra special.

These beautiful hand blown glass window ornaments are traditionally known as symbols of friendship.  They sparkle in the light the way a good friend brings sparkle to your life.  The colors swirl and mingle across the surface of the ball enhancing each other just as the talents and varied personalities of your friends bring color to your life.  These balls have intriguing ripples and ridges making them a delight to touch as well as behold.

Just Like Friends...No Two Are Alike

In Your Garden or Pond


Floating glass balls may even protect your pond fish from predators.  Folklore suggests that raccoons are frightened by the shiny surface of the balls and will stop poaching your pond pets.


Gazing Balls

Gazing balls have as varied and colorful a history as they are themselves.  The first recorded history of these hand-blown glass garden accents dates back to the 13th century where they were made in Venice.  In 1612 an Italian priest, Antonio Neri named them "Spheres of Light".  They have been known by many names - Gazing Globes, Rose Balls, Good Luck Balls, Victorian Balls, Witch Balls, and Garden Globes.  Also called "Globes of Happiness", they have been used symbolically as wedding gifts - said to bring the bride happiness in her new home.  In the 16th century Francis Bacon stated that a proper garden would have round colored balls for the sun to play upon.  They gained their current widespread popularity during Victorian times, being used both
indoors as well as in the garden.  One interior use was in dining rooms and on sideboards.  Placed in such a way, the servant could gaze discreetly into the ball and see who may need a refill without standing and staring throughout the meal.

Commonly they are known to fend off misfortune, illness and evil, and to bestow happiness to the owner.  The original Victorian Gazing Balls were small (4 inches) hanging balls of either gold or blue glass.  They were hung in the front room windows to repel witches the belief being the witch would see her reflection, and being repulsed by it, would leave.

A collection of lore from different sources includes the following:

Place the ball close to the front door of a house so that if a witch comes calling, she will see her reflection in the ball and stay there to stare at herself.

Called "Garden Gazers" in the South, they were placed at the gate to the front yard so that those sitting on the porches could see who was coming, and have time to either go in and close the door, or go to prepare a glass of ice tea for the guest.

Used in Victorian gardens, a young woman would gaze into them in hopes to catch a glimpse of her future husband.

Phone 440-306-2454
FAX 440-306-2456

glass blowers

Here you'll find art glass...

Glass Kugels

Witch Balls

Watering Balls

Hummingbird Feeders

Glass Ball Ornaments

Pond Balls

Gazing Balls

Stands & Hangers

Oil Lamps