Crown
Reflections

Glass, Hand-Blown and Hand-Painted — Hallmark's Most Elegant Ornament Format

The Crown Reflections line launched in 1998 as Hallmark's answer to the European glass ornament tradition — a premium sub-line within the Keepsake catalog where each ornament was individually hand-blown rather than mass-produced in resin or metal. The 1998 Sugarplum Cottage (QBG6917) was among the founding entries: a blown-glass cottage in the confectionary fairytale tradition, delicate and luminous. The 1999 Childhood Treasures Set of Three (QBG4237) — artist Kristina Gaughran, 2½" H each — brought three blown-glass childhood toy classics together: a silver-blue robot, a brown teddy bear in a red vest, and a green Jack-in-the-Box. The 2000 Frosty Friends pair (QBG4094) translated Hallmark's most beloved character duo — Frosty the Eskimo and his penguin companion — into blown glass: the Eskimo at 4" and the penguin at 3", both on an ice fishing expedition, both dated 2000 on the back and on metal tags on top.

The three Star Trek entries represent a landmark in Hallmark's Trek ornament history. The 1999 USS Enterprise NCC-1701 (QBG6117, Rich LaPierre, 5" wide) shows the original series' ship against black starry skies, "STAR TREK" in silver on the reverse — "hard to find and prized by Star Trek collectors." The 2000 Lt. Commander Worf (QBG4064, Anita Marra Rogers — her tenth Trek sculpt) was the first Star Trek blown-glass ornament Hallmark produced, described as "the franchise's inaugural glass ornament, marrying elegance with Klingon honor." And the 2001 Q (QBG4345) brought John de Lancie's omnipotent trickster from The Next Generation into the Crown Reflections format — the mischievous god of the Star Trek universe, hand-blown, hand-painted, on the Christmas tree.

Tips for the Collection

• 01
  Crown Reflections blown glass ornaments are fragile — handle with care and store properly. Each Crown Reflections ornament is individually hand-blown glass. Unlike the resin or metal Keepsake ornaments, glass ornaments are susceptible to chipping and shattering. Handle by the metal cap rather than the glass body when possible. Store in their original boxes with original tissue — the Crown Reflections packaging was designed to protect the glass. Display on sturdy branches where they won't be knocked by passing traffic.
• 02
  The 1999 USS Enterprise is 5 inches wide and "hard to find" — give it space and prominence. Rich LaPierre's Enterprise (QBG6117) is the most physically dramatic entry in the collection at 5" wide, and "hard to find, prized by Star Trek collectors." Position it on a long outer branch where the full wingspan of the ship can extend without obstruction, lit from behind if possible — the blown glass Enterprise against black starry skies reads best with backlighting.
• 03
  The Frosty Friends and Childhood Treasures are multi-piece sets — display the pieces together. The 2000 Frosty Friends (QBG4094) is a set of two — the Eskimo (4" H) and the Penguin (3" H) on their ice fishing expedition — and should be displayed on adjacent branches as the fishing pair they are. The 1999 Childhood Treasures (QBG4237) is a set of three — robot, bear, Jack-in-the-Box — and similarly reads best as a grouped trio rather than scattered across different branches.
• 04
  All 6 Crown Reflections Hallmark ornaments — 1998 through 2001 — are at Already Christmas. Sugarplum Cottage. USS Enterprise. Childhood Treasures. Frosty Friends. Lt. Cmdr. Worf. Q. Hand-blown. Hand-painted. All six here.