Hedgehog in Glass: An Egyptian Treasure Dangling from Your Tree

Meet the most dapper little prickle-bearer your holiday tree has ever hosted! This enchanting hand-blown glass hedgehog ornament hails from the Egyptian Museum, where artisans have long practiced the ancient craft of lampworking — shaping molten glass with breath and flame into tiny creatures of impossible charm. With his rotund chocolate-brown body studded with cheerful white quills, an oversized ivory snout, and bright button eyes that seem to say "I know where the mealworms are hidden," this little fellow is ready to nestle among your branches with distinguished Egyptian flair.

The hedgehog holds a surprisingly storied place in Egyptian history — ancient Egyptians revered the hedgehog as a symbol of rebirth and protection against the underworld, and hedgehog-shaped amulets and vessels have been unearthed from tombs dating back to 4000 BCE. The Egyptians believed hedgehogs, having survived harsh desert conditions, carried a kind of magical resilience. Today, the Egyptian Museum continues to celebrate this legacy through the work of skilled glassblowers who carry forward traditions stretching back millennia, breathing new life (and new glass) into these beloved creatures.

• Hand-blown art glass hedgehog ornament from the Egyptian Museum
• Approximately 2 inches (5 cm) tall
• Brown body with white raised glass quill details; gray face and underbelly; black and gold glass eyes
• Includes gold metallic hanging cord with loop cap
• A wonderful collector's piece or gift for hedgehog enthusiasts and lovers of artisan glass