For bagpipe players and bagpipe lovers, there are bagpipe ornaments for hanging on the Christmas tree, Easter tree, Halloween tree, and any other kind of tree. They can also be hung from knobs on furniture (if care is taken) or other knobs where the knob is not often used so the ornament doesn’t get crinkled.
2010 saw the unveiling of a kilted Santa Claus playing bagpipes. The ornament is made in the style of the old fashioned thin glass ornaments, and is available from a number of sources online if you cannot find it locally. There is also a thin glass ornament that is just the bagpipes, made in a similar manner. This ornament is less prevalent than the Santa Claus piper ornament.
On a sightly different note, there is a thin glass ornament with a Scottish terrier playing the pipes. With kilt and tam, the Scottie is attired appropriately for joining the pipe and drum corps. Finally, there is a thin glass ornament of a snowman holding bagpipes, but not actually playing them.
Besides the thin glass ornament of bagpipes alone, you can get an ornament of the pipes made from tartan cloth with embroidered pipes and chanter, and a miniature set of pipes actually made like the real thing from tartan cloth and wood. These are called pixie pipes and are available as an ornament or as rear view mirror hangers. There are other miniature pipes made from wood and cloth as well.
Not only does Santa Claus play the bagpipes, Snoopy does as well. An ornament showing this feat of skill and daring is available. Another ornament made from resin shows Santa Claus holding a set of pipes, although he is not actually playing them and they are not in position to be played. A simple wooden figure from Steinbach has his bagpipes in position to play.
Perhaps the most beautiful bagpipe ornament is a crystal figure by Waterford. It appears that the man is playing the pipes, and the whole thing is done in the Waterford crystal with no color at all. In a few cases above, where the ornament represents the pipes only, you may have a choice of the overall color of the plaid, which is sometimes cloth and sometimes painted on the pipes.
A medieval ornament shows a boar playing the bagpipes, and a modern interpretation of this European museum piece is available. The metal ornament is basically two dimensional and quite different in style and execution to the other ornaments mentioned here.
Finally, there are ceramic and oval plaques with piper sayings, players playing their pipes and some with just the bagpipes themselves. Cafe Press is the source of most of these. Some of the piper sayings are very funny.
Look for bagpipe ornaments in stores near you, especially between Halloween and Christmas. Also check online sources for ornaments that may not be available locally.
The image in this post is from Stock Xchnge.
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