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Whitehurst West German glass balls for the American Bicentennial.
The West German glass blowers joined in wishing the USA a happy birthday in 1976 with this charming group of christbaumschmuck.
These 8 cm glass balls are unsilvered and have a frosted white finish. They are decorated with decals of either the Liberty Bell or Washington crossing the Delaware on one side and Hussars (heavy cavalry) on the reverse. Please make your selection (while available) of A – H. Priced singly.
The last two photos show the ornaments in natural light.Priced singly, choice while available.
These ornaments were imported by the Baltimore company Whitehurst Imports (which later moved its warehouse to Easton, MD.) The company was founded by Olga and Morris Whitehurst in 1954. Not too long after World War II ended, the Whitehursts, who then owned a children's shop, heard that many European artisans were open for business again. They decided to go to Switzerland and France after merchandise, and a shipboard friend recommended that they go to the Leipzig Fair, which dates back to 1100. There they saw “the blown-glass ornaments we'd seen as children," Whitehurst recalled. "Baltimore has a large German population and there was no doubt in our minds but that every German in the city would flock to buy them." Since the passing of the founding couple, the business changed hands several times but still imports a small assortment of European glass.
Shipping from Maryland, USA