When Ian began collecting in earnest 12 years ago, he made good use of eBay-back then, a great undiscovered source of quality pieces. Latterly, he reports having better luck at antiques markets and dedicated shops, like Toronto's Flatirons Christmas Market, where the owners design and manufacture a collection of ornaments.
Today Ian's collection extends to an astonishing 2,000 ornaments-far too many for any one tree, so Ian and the children pick and choose which ones to use. But one thing never changes. The final decorative touch, one of great value to Ian, is always a star purchased in England with Nancy their first Christmas together. Freshly polished each year, it's perched at the tree's top, an intimate reminder of shared memories and the timeless significance of family traditions.
Countdown to Christmas
- Most amount of money spent on one ornament: $395
- Typical number of ornaments on tree: 900
- Total number of evenings it takes to decorate the tree: 4
- Number of layers in the ornaments' storage boxes: 4. One silica gel packet layer to keep out moisture, one shredded acid-free paper layer, one red silk taffeta storage box, and one resealable plastic bag within which the box is encased
“Actually, too many to count,” says Ian. “But that's part of the allure of collecting delicate objects like this. They're here one minute and gone the next.”
Germany, the birthplace of the Christmas tree, is still home to the world's Christmas decoration industry, but countries like China are now producing beautiful glass ornaments as well.
Read more in Decorating and Seasonal Decorating
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