Christmas 2015: 11 best baubles
From Bollywood-inspired pieces to decs for London lovers, decorate your tree with out-of-the-ordinary ornaments
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Your support makes all the difference.It’s time to dig out the decorations again. But instead of just re-hanging the same old ropey trinkets you’ve had in a box in the attic for years shedding glitter, why not invest in a few more unusual baubles? The ornaments on this list are made from a range of materials – glass, paper, card and china – and run from traditional-looking with a twist to super-contemporary. All of these are between 7-8cm in diameter (with the exception of Bombki’s 10cm celebration of London), so will suit larger trees.
1. Fern Etched Mercury: £4.20, The White Company
Statement doesn’t have to mean bright. This distinctive silvery glass ball from always tasteful The White Company has a slightly distressed finish, giving it a vintage feel. The etched detail makes it all the more eye-catching, but still subtle enough to fit with most schemes.
2. Wedgewood Neoclassical: £18.75, House of Fraser
We know almost 20 quid for a dec is a lot, but you have to think of this one as a collectors’ item. Made from fine porcelain, and designed in Staffordshire, the leaf and flower design is inspired by Wedgewood’s Jasper collection from its archive. The 7.5cm ball comes in a giftbox to keep it safe from year to year – and in good enough condition to pass down generations.
3. Boutique Glass Topped Bauble: £4, John Lewis
This may not be your average Christmassy colour combo but it works, doesn’t it? John Lewis says the Boutique collection that this comes from is influenced by Parisian 1920s art deco designs. We say royal blue sparkles on black glass is the new red and gold. 8cm.
4. Santa Balls On the Naughty List: £7.50, Selfridges
If chinz and sparkle are vetoed in your house, try Brit brand Santa Balls for a more irreverent take on the Xmas staple. With slogans ranging from nice (Merry Kissmass) to slightly less festive (Ho bloody ho), there’s something for Christmas fans and cynics alike.
5. Pantone: £8, Made In Design
We’d seen Pantone mugs and crockery but the baubles are a new one for us. Made by Italian design house Seletti, the glass balls come in ten colours from the company’s official colour-matching system, including decidedly untraditional orange, turquoise and yellow shades.
6. Bombki London Skyline: £45, Not On The High Street
Another one for collectors – and Londonophiles. Bombki’s creations are designed in England, and come in loads of kitsch designs, from London bus and taxi-shaped ornaments to more unusual cakes, champagne and corgis. There are a few baubles in the mix, including this intricate design on glass celebrating the capital’s skyline. It comes in four colours, packaged in a wooden presentation box, and at 10cm in diameter, it makes an impact.
7. Tom Martin London 2015: £15, Not On The High Street
London-based Tom Martin makes just 400 of these hand-blown, hand-painted baubles a year and is now on its sixth design. This one features a stag in a snowy setting and the scene is carried on all the way around, so that on the other side you get more of the frosty wood. Comes in a plush box. 7.5cm in diameter.
8. Bollywood Christmas Indian Floral: £4.25, Notrunofthemill
Colourful florals and Christmas may not go hand-in-hand generally speaking, but we’re fans of these paper mache baubles made by artisans in Kashmir, Rajasthan and Delhi. The company ensures all the workers get a fair deal and if flowers aren’t festive enough for you, there are also designs in more classic colours. Available in 7cm or 12cm versions.
9. Sass and Belle Blue Vintage Globe: £5, Lisa Angel
When it comes to Christmas decs, the world is your oyster. Or something. These globes crafted from card make an out-of-ordinary-choice for the tree. If nothing else, you can daydream about warmer climes looking at the world map that adorns them.
10. National Trust Oak Leaf: £3.50, National Trust Shop
The design of this pretty bronze glass bauble may have been influenced by the Trust’s leafy logo, but it makes a pretty and unusual addition to a tree. There’s enough sparkle to catch the eye, but not enough for it to tip into gaudy territory. 7cm diameter.
11. Snowden Flood London Baubles: £16.50, Trouva
If Bombki’s London love-in has too much going on for your colour scheme, this is a more understated celebration of the city by interiors brand Snowden Flood. Handmade from bone china in Stoke on Trent, the designs, in gold or platinum, depict some of the capital’s most distinctive buildings and views. Our favourite is this vista of St Paul’s.
Verdict
If you’re after an unusual bauble that won’t break the bank, we like John Lewis’ striking blue and black bauble (it also comes in a gold and black version). For something in no way traditional, try Santa Balls for a subversive, tongue-in-cheek take on festivities. If traditional craftsmanship and intricate detail get you going, opt for Tom Martin London’s limited edition offering that makes a lovely pressie.