A worker shapes hot glass into a Christmas tree decoration in Jozefow, Poland. He is doing serious work: making ornaments the Old World way.

Poland’s Silverado ornament manufacturer sells about one million Christmas tree ornaments every year. The fragile ornaments are called bombki. They come in any shape a client can think of—from wedding cakes to sushi pieces. Magdalena Jaroszynska-Slodyczka is Silverado’s co-owner and artistic director. “If the client wants to have a snowflake on an angel’s gown, he must have it!” she says.

Silverado’s customers live mostly in the United States and Europe. They pay a high price for the ornaments—and for good reason. The glass shapes are blown by hand. The hot glass heats up to more than 1,112 degrees Fahrenheit. It does not tolerate mistakes. The newly-blown bulbs get a silver coating. Then glitter and glass gems are added. It can take days to make just one ornament!

(AP Photo: A worker at Silverado shapes an ornament on November 28. Even the U.S. White House has Silverado bombkis.)