Glass Globes and Cloches in Interior Design

Friends tell me there is a story behind everything in our house. The story or provenance is the history of an object. My fascination with glass globes and garden cloches began with these flowers from my sister’s wedding cake. She was married in a garden in Fredericksburg, Texas in the Hill Country and after the wedding the flowers traveled with me in a box on the back seat of the car.

At the base of the flowers are vintage rhinestone shoe clips and buckles. The bronze stand was the support for a large blue and white vase. My husband won the stand and vase from the local public radio station when he was the first to know the answer to a silly question.  The footed globe is in my laundry room on the counter. Unusual perhaps, but a constant source of joy when folding clothes, ironing, or simply gazing out the window at the hills.

Here is a silver candy dish holding a Styrofoam ball covered in silk ribbon and studded with vintage rhinestone pins. To my mind this, when fully covered, would make a stunning and original bridal bouquet.

My glass globes came to mind spurred on by an article about globes de mariee written by Elise Taylor for Vogue. The story centered on decoupage artist and shop owner John Derrian who has been collecting them for over thirty years.

In the nineteenth century the relatives of an engaged couple created a globe de mariee or decorative collection under glass composed of artifacts representing the wedding ceremony and other small symbolic objects. The globe was presented to the couple at their wedding and afterwards displayed in a place of prominence in their home.

This globe includes photographs of people and places important to the couple, a crown representing the bride’s head piece and some dried flowers in a heart form which might be similar those carried by the bride.

These globes de mariee show the cushion or throne often included inside the glass dome. The green throne in the second one is surround by oak leaves which were a symbol of prosperity,

This globe incudes tiny mirrors near the top and bottom. The number of mirrors is said to refer to the number of children desired by the couple.

This globe de mariee has a pillow with golden tassles perched on a stand with two hands clasping. At one time there may have been rings on the pillow. It seems to me the pillow support would be simpler to construct than the “pin cushion tufted throne” version.

Here is a lovely one in shades of apricot sherbet and aged gold with tiny white lilies sprinkled about. You can imagine this having a place of honor in the home.

Reading about the globes de mariee inspired me to try making my own with some bits of pretty things collected over the years. Included is a vintage milliner’s flower wreath, a rhinestone and paste brooch taken apart and mounted on rusted wire, a small antique button with a mirrored facing and a sprinkling of vintage rhinestone buttons such as might have graced the back of a gown. The objects are supported by a piece of coral rather than a pillow or tufted crown. The wooden stand is one we used to use to hold a candle repainted in Gustavian gray and gold.

Making this reminded me of a 6-inch tall vintage china or paste flower arrangement purchased years ago. The colors of the flowers had faded and there was an opportunity to restyle it and enjoy it further by making it into something under a globe! A coat of flat oyster white paint and the focus could be on the varied shapes of the flowers and their relationship to one another. The new arrangement is crisp and almost ethereal and is such fun to contemplate under glass!

Here is a photo of a preserved and mounted parakeet under a globe in Belgian designer Julien Devergnies’ home.  (Frederic Magazine)

Artist, Patricia Larson includes globes in her “little altar” at home reminding her to “be grateful”. (remodelista.com)

Garden cloches can be used in countless ways. You may have seen cloches over scented candles in shops. You could do this at home as well. Here is a cloche in my kitchen. Inside is a decanter of rum-soaked vanilla beans used for baking.

On the top shelf in the pantry we have a collection of cloches on glass stands which can be used for cheeses, cookies, small cakes, or muffins. Several of them have silver baby cups inside. The darker one belonged to my Grandmother. The other one is mine, given to me by my Grandfather whose birthday was the same as mine. It makes me happy to see them every time the pantry door is opened!

Of course, garden cloches can also be used in the garden to protect young seedlings and plants from frost. To me, they are too precious to risk, but they might be fascinating to have in the house with a tiny plant or live flower underneath!

You, like me, may now be looking for ways to bring garden cloches and glass globes into your life. John Derrian suggests we think of creating globes de mariee as wedding gifts for those we love! Have fun with it!