Christopher Radko is back in the ornament business — although you probably didn’t realize he ever left.
Dubbed the “Czar of the Christmas Present” by the New York Times, Radko became a household name in the 1990s for his exquisite, handblown glass ornaments — a throwback to the vintage pieces created in Europe a century earlier. His pieces took traditional themes and gave them an elegant twist: Heavy glass, rich colors, detailed characters, glamorous embellishments and modern touches that stood out from mass-produced spheres and kitsch. They were expensive ($50 and more) and sold at 3,000 upscale department stores and boutiques. Celebrities (Oprah Winfrey, Elton John, Barbra Streisand) raved about them; he decorated the Red and Green rooms for the White House holidays in 1996. In the billion-dollar Christmas industry, Radko was a shimmering, undisputed star.
