No One Under 30 Knows What This Is.
September 12, 2025
Source: Reddit
While shopping at a charity shop, I came across an item that struck a nostalgic chord with me. It was a glass object with twisty arms, a halo-like ring, and a little spike in the center, it looked strangely familiar.
It was an egg stand. The decorative egg stands just like the ones my grandma had in her curio cabinet.
These were not simply glass holders. Designers specifically created them to hold collectible eggs. Collectors displayed Fabergé-style eggs, painted porcelain, or carved stone—if it was egg-shaped and breakable, they put it on one.
What Is a Decorative Egg Stand?
Most were made from colorless or colored glass. Some featured ribbed detail or curled arms. The base of the stand was thick and solid. The arms were arching, the ring on top held the egg in position, and the glass spike prevented it from rolling away.
They were both functional and aesthetically pleasing, and you could appreciate the egg from every angle without disturbing it.
The Egg Collecting Craze
From the 1960’s to the mid-1990’s, decorated eggs were virtually everywhere. People eagerly collected them, just as they collected figurines. They collected porcelain Easter eggs, souvenir eggs, crystal eggs, and even cheap plastic eggs with glitter on them.
The decorative egg stand made them feel important. Even the most gaudy and cheap eggs appeared to look like treasures displayed that way.
I remember one of my grandma’s eggs had little painted violets and gold trim on it. Another egg had a hinged lid and revealed a secret surprise egg inside. The stands elevated their appearance – both literally and figuratively.
Why I Care
I found the stand wrapped in a box behind some teacups, and I recognized it right away. It didn’t have an egg, but that was just fine. I already had one at home buried in a box from years ago.
Now it sits on my shelf with a deep-blue egg, trimmed in gold. If it catches a little sunlight in the afternoon, it is very simple, but it nonetheless provides some character.
Decorative egg stands were made with care. Glass was blown and formed by hand. Details mattered, and they were not trying to be ostentatious. They simply did one job – hold an egg – and they did this job clearly.
Still Useful – Still Beautiful
Some people are using them right now to hold crystal spheres, air plants, even marble paperweights. However, they will always work best for eggs because people made and used them for that purpose.
If you find one, clean it up, and display it with something that is meaningful. It doesn’t need to be fancy. It will be something that will stop you for a moment and hopefully bring a smile to your face.
Last Thoughts
Decorative egg stands remind me of the days when people exercised pride in their shelves. People didn’t use “display” as a bragging right; they used it to enjoy little things.
Either way, decorative egg stands are odd little leftovers from another time. However, decorative egg stands are little instances of thoughtful design – and quiet nostalgia.
They belong somewhere – even if it is just one egg on one shelf in one unassuming corner of the home.