INGE-GLAS MANUFAKTUR Store Berlin

The Inge-Glas Manufaktur Store Berlin belongs to the Müller-Blech family, who have been working in glass craftsmanship since 1597 and hand-blow, internally silver-plate, and hand-paint their Christmas tree decorations in Neustadt bei Coburg. Around 15,000 historical glassblowing molds are available for this purpose. For Christmas decorations in Berlin, this means handmade unique pieces instead of mass-produced goods from a bulk pack.

Christmas Decorations in Hackesche Höfe: the Inge-Glas Manufaktur Store Berlin

The Inge-Glas Manufaktur Store Berlin is located in Courtyard V of Hackesche Höfe at Rosenthaler Straße 40 in Mitte. It’s just a few minutes’ walk from S-Bahnhof Hackescher Markt and U-Bahnhof Weinmeisterstraße. Those walking through the courtyards from the street will first pass theaters, cinemas, and shops before the path leads to the rear part of the area.

Behind the store is a family history dating back to 1597. At that time, Christoph Müller, an ancestor of the Müller-Blech family, founded the ‘Mutterglashütte’ (mother glassworks) in Lauscha, Thuringia. In 1951, Heinz Müller-Blech left Thuringia and established a glassblowing workshop for Christmas tree decorations in Neustadt bei Coburg, Bavaria, where production continues to this day. Around 100 employees work for the company, which supplies to more than 40 countries and operates five of its own stores. The glass Christmas tree ball itself was invented in the 19th century in this very region, in the Thuringian Forest around Lauscha.

Hand-blown Christmas Tree Baubles and Figural Glass Ornaments

Each piece is handmade. The glass is mouth-blown in front of the flame, mirrored from the inside with real sterling silver, and then hand-painted. Up to 60 work steps go into a single ornament, and from the first to the last painting process, each piece remains with the same painter. The family’s collection of around 15,000 glassblowing molds from two centuries is available for this purpose. Since 1987, the decorations have carried a small crown of stars as a distinguishing mark, which also serves as a hanger.

The assortment includes classic motifs such as baubles, hearts, tree toppers, angels, and snowmen. In addition, there is a whole range of ornaments that have little to do with Christmas: fruits and vegetables, fairy tale figures, and a menagerie from cats to penguins, plus birds with real feathers. Collections for spring, weddings, and births are also included. Plain baubles with a twelve-centimeter diameter start at around 13.50 Euros, while figural ornaments cost about 27 Euros.