Animal Christmas ornaments at The Christmas Shop
Over six hundred animal ornaments hang ready in the collection. A glass labrador by Kurt S. Adler, a rabbit by Inge Glas, a felt Christmas mouse by Sass & Belle: there's an ornament for almost every animal. Most are handmade from glass and hand-painted, often in European workshops. If you'd rather have something unbreakable, the felt and resin pieces hold up well to pets and small hands.
Hand-blown glass ornaments
The finest animal ornaments are made of glass. Inge Glas Manufaktor, a family business in the Bavarian region, blows every ornament by mouth and paints each one by hand. A hedgehog in a Christmas hat, a lioness, a Tyrannosaurus rex: each one unique, with the small differences that come with the craft. Alongside Inge Glas you'll find Goodwill, a Belgian brand designing glass ornaments since 1986, and Kurt S. Adler with a colourful New York twist.
Dogs and cats in the tree
Pets in the Christmas tree have been popular for years. The dog ornaments cover a wide range of breeds: Boston terrier, Yorkshire, blond labrador, dachshund in a Santa hat. Cats are well represented too, from tabby glass to cuddly felt. Looking for your specific breed? Chances are there's a version of it somewhere in the collection, in glass or in felt.
Woodland creatures and beyond
Beyond the household favourites, an entire collection of wild animals waits in the tree. A glass squirrel with an acorn, an owl with big round eyes, a fox in a winter coat, a reindeer with a full rack of antlers: classic forest dwellers that give the tree a storybook feel. Further afield you'll find lionesses, polar bears with penguins, and even a dinosaur. And for anyone following the Chinese zodiac, Inge Glas releases a new animal of the year each Christmas.
Clip-on birds
A traditional Christmas tree wouldn't feel complete without clip-on birds. With a feather, a small clip and a touch of glitter, the bird sits straight onto the branch. The collection includes clips by Inge Glas and Goodwill, from sparrows and robins to Christmas doves and hummingbirds. A handful of birds among the glass baubles, and the tree feels more like a wintry garden than a row of ornaments.
