Will Seippel | December 18, 2024

It was Christmas 1984, and all through the Radko house, not a creature was stirring. The family was decorating a 14-foot-tall Christmas tree with family ornaments, many of them vintage and family heirlooms. The stand holding up the massive tree gave way, sending the tree and nearly 1,000 precious blown glass ornaments to the floor in a broken heap of glass and despair.

Most of the ornaments could not be repaired, so Christopher Radko contacted a glassblower, who recreated some of the ornaments from Radko’s sketches. At the time, the designer was working in the mailroom of a talent agency but began selling the ornaments to friends and family, and pretty soon, a brand was born.

Radko moved from showing his pieces to New York and New Jersey stores to creating a catalog. He then began a company fan club and Starlight Magazine magazine for collectors. The ornaments were wildly popular, and the brand took off, so it wasn’t long before other companies made similar ornaments. 

In this video, I explain the differences between original Radko pieces and some of the ones created in the style Radko perfected. The colors of glass are different depending on the brand, and the Radko ornaments are often heavier, more detailed, and feel more substantial when held.

Do you have any Radko ornaments on your tree? Check the WorthPoint Price Guide for more information on these and other holiday decorations.