hey Paul that sounds cool. How do you manage to restrict yourself to gold and silver??? That requires DISCIPLINE lol. Our tree is a mix, old and new, hers and mine---and unfortunately mostly mine now; we had work done on the house and someone stole Katrina's ornaments. All she has left are things which were saved in 2 'santa 'boxes i had, and a gold filigree set/collection she bought from Franklin Mint. But all the things made by her grandmother and great grandmother were ripped off.
I like how you described your tree. It must be awesome. A gold/silver combo would be dazzling and all the crystal would just enhance it. I like Baccarat, for some reason it glitters more when light goes through it. And the French, in general, make these amazing pieces! You ever see Bernardaud's Christmas ornaments? They don't make them any more, which is surprising cause they were popular. All white porcelain, sometimes with painted scenes. I buy them wherever I find them, unless they get too pricey! Doesn't even matter if we have it already, THOSE I just buy lol.
I had no idea Filene's even sold ornaments. You must have gotten a lot there before they stopped.AQ fake tree takes getting used to but I actually prefer it. No haste is needed in taking it down, and in Denver they're kept up through January. You will get to prefer it.
By the way, Your Swarovski sounds cool. I only got into them 2 years ago.
How'd you get into this addiction anyway Paul?
It stays with a person 
It sure does require discipline!
It all started when I first moved into the city more than twenty years ago. I moved into the south end of Boston (hence my screen name), one of the largest Victorian neighborhoods in the country; blocks and blocks of 19th century brownstones. I spied a huge tree in a bay window in my neighborhood: it was silver, gold, crystal and white. That was the inspiration.
Of course, I had had colored ornaments, many antique cobalt ones, little musical instruments and such. It took several years of collecting to have enough of the new theme to decorate a tree.
I add to it every year. There is a store in Boston called Shreve, Crump and Low that used to sell marvelous sterling ornaments, and I'd treat myself to one each year. Around 2000, I started getting the annual Swarovski star ornament, plus some of their little ones. FYI, there is a Baccarat outlet store in Vermont--very dangerous.
I go to the good handcraft stores to look for clear glass ornaments--some of these I like better than the fancy brand name ones.
Antique chandelier prisms can be had for $1 apiece (and up, way up), and add a lot of sparkle.
I love Bernardaud, but have never seen their ornaments. Oh, I was horrified to hear your story about the ornament thief. What bastard would steal such personal family things?
Good thought that a fake tree can stay up longer. No more dried out stiff tree to stuff out the door!
