Snow Globes

Adding to the inherent mystery of snow globes is their uncertain history; no one is exactly sure when or where the first snow globe was made, but they seem to have appeared in France in the early 1800s. By the turn of the 18th century, though, snow globes had everyone from Europe to America under their spell.

Early snow globes were constructed with lead glass over a ceramic base (including the figures in the scene), and the "snow" was produced by inserting bone or porcelain chips. Later snow globes feature thinner glass, lighter bases, and foil or soap flake "snow."

Today, snow globes are made of a range of materials, including old-fashioned glass and ceramic combinations as well as plastic, in equally varied sizes and shapes. Modern snow globes also come once in a while with a newfangled accessory or two, including music boxes, moving parts, and snow-motors.