Horse Chestnut Glass Ornament

With its pernickety olive-hued fruit intact, this shimmering Horse Chestnut Glass Ornament depicts a horse chestnut that appears to have just fallen from a tree. Also known as the buckeye or Spanish chestnut, the horse chestnut was introduced to England in the late 16th century and is now a common sight in parks, gardens and streetscapes.

The tree is distinctive both for the abundant profusion of white and pink flowers that appear each spring, as well as the spiky green fruit. Emerging later in the autumn, these natural pods contain the plant's smooth round seeds, known as conkers. Unlike its edible and delicious cousin, the sweet chestnut, the conker has a bitter taste and is considered poisonous. The horse chestnut's true value lies in its strength as a object used in competition by schoolchildren and serious players alike in a game known as "Conkers.".  Two horse chestnuts suspended on strings are hit against one another by opponents until one breaks. A well-known tradition in Britain, a world championship is held annually in Northhamptonshire. While we don't recommend trying a game of conkers at home with your ornaments, we are confident they will bring a quaint earthiness to your tree this season.

3.5"H x 3".