I made this one-minute demo movie as kind of a “Merry Christmas” movie for my customers...but it showed so much technique in such a short time that I decided it had a place in our “Movies” blog.

Here you’ll see Michael Haberland, ornament maker extraordinaire, creating one of his “Wise Old Owls”.

First, he heats a bit of tubing, then blows into a two-part mold. After the ornament has cooled, it is hand silvered, using silver nitrate and a reducing agent, which are combined to precipitate silver onto the inner wall of the ornament. This is the same way mirror is made.

We love to support Michael in his efforts to carry on the centuries old Lauschan ornament style.

See more of his work at: http://www.firelady.com/products.asp?cat=15