Each figural glass ornament produced for The Merck Family"s Old World Christmas is hand crafted in age-old tradition using the same techniques that originated in the 1800"s. Molten glass is mouth-blown into finely carved molds available only to the Merck Family"s Old World Christmas, before a hot solution of liquid silver is poured inside. The ornaments are then hand-painted and glittered in a series of labor-intensive steps to achieve the beautiful creations.