One Family. One Passion. Infinite Possibilities.
A Tradition Born in Lauscha, Lived in Every Detail
Nestled in the Thuringian Forest, the town of Lauscha holds a unique place in the history of Christmas. It was here, that glassblowers first began crafting ornamental balls to hang on Christmas trees. A small idea in a small village that would eventually find its way into homes across Europe and around the world.
The glassblowers of Lauscha built something that outlasted every trend: a craft rooted in skill, patience, and an eye for beauty, passed through families in this region for over 150 years.
We are one of those families. For five generations, we have been part of this story, working and creating just a few kilometers from where it all began. Different times, different workshops, the same love for glass.
And we still make every ornament the way it has always been done. The glass is mouth-blown. Each piece is silvered, colored, and hand-painted by our skilled painters, one ornament at a time. Every painter brings her own eye, her own touch. Each ornament is one of a kind in the way only handmade things can be.
The Woman Behind the Glass
Kerstin's Chapter: The Heart of Glavena
Kerstin grew up surrounded by glass, color, and the quiet rhythm of the workshop. Long before she formally took the helm, her eye was already shaping the collection — sketching ideas, refining designs, pushing the palette a little further each season. That creative instinct didn't arrive with the job title. It was always there.
Today she runs Glavena and her fingerprints are on every part of the business. The product range has grown under her watch: new shapes, new occasions, new levels of customization that go far beyond the traditional Christmas ball. Today, Glavena supplies retailers and importers across the United States and new partners across Europe — markets that once felt out of reach, now part of everyday business. And through it all, the craft has stayed exactly what it should be: handmade, personal, and rooted in the traditions of the "Thüringer Wald" (Thuringian Forest).
But perhaps what defines Kerstin most is what she does when a customer arrives with an idea that sounds impossible.
She listens. She sketches. She finds a way.
Time and again, she has taken the boldest visions and the most specific ones and turned them into finished ornaments that exceeded what anyone imagined. That ability to bridge imagination and craft is at the heart of everything Glavena does.
Kerstin is also passionate about keeping the tradition alive beyond the workshop. She regularly brings the art of "Christbaumschmuck" (Christmas tree ornament) to new audiences, especially children, through hands-on events and demonstrations that make the magic of decorating and glassblowing tangible and real. Whether at fixed events here in Cursdorf or through private bookings, she loves watching people discover what this craft can feel like from the inside.
Our Workshop
One of the first moves when starting the Glavena chapter of the family business was finding a new home for the workshop. A building was hand-picked for the craft. More room, a better workflow, and space to grow without leaving anything behind.
But the detail that sealed it was already there: a stunning glass roof that floods the space with natural light throughout the day. For the painters who bring each ornament to life by hand, that changes everything. A space that feels made for the craft. It feels like it was waiting for us.
And now it is waiting for you, too.
Come and See for Yourself.
Experience the Craft
Glass ornament making is something you have to see to fully appreciate. And even better: something you can try yourself. Throughout the year, we open our workshop in Cursdorf for hands-on experiences that bring the the centuries-old craft of Thuringian glasswork to life. A favorite with children, families, and anyone who has ever wondered what it feels like to hold something truly handmade that they made themselves.
Our workshops are also available for private bookings — schools, corporate groups, private celebrations, and Christmas markets welcome. Whatever the occasion, we make it personal.