Snow globes have come a long way

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Jan 26, 2004

Snow globes appeared in Europe in the late 1800s, likely offshoots of the paperweight. One of the earliest versions contained a miniature Eiffel Tower, a souvenir of the 1889 French Exposition.

Snow globes spread across Europe, appearing in Germany, Austria, Poland and eventually England. Delicate figurines, clocks, dolls, medals and wedding flowers were made into snow domes, according to Nancy McMichael, author of "SnowDomes," (Abbeville Press, $27.50). Religious figures and relics in water-filled glass became household altars.

Although a water globe dating from the 1870s is on display at the Bergstrom-Mabler Museum in Neenah, Wis., the fad didn't really start in the United States until the 1920s. The early snow globes were souvenirs of local towns inscribed with the town's name but produced by German companies.

Eventually, American companies jumped in, producing a wide variety of snow-in-water glass novelties. Snow was made of various materials, including ground rice, bone, ceramic and porcelain. Figures were bisque, stone, wax, bone and metal.

Plastic entered the picture in the 1950s, allowing for the growth of cheap souvenirs available at every tourist trap and five-and- dime. Snow globes became what McMichael calls "The Good, the Bad and the Tacky. And the Truly Tacky."

In the 1970s, American gift companies such as Enesco and Silvesteri contracted with Asian producers to take the snow globe upscale. These included intricate designs, music boxes and moving figures . . . far beyond simple novelty .

Snow globes continue to evolve with elaborate scenes, moving water, lights, action and even motion detectors to turn them on.

For snow-globe or music-box repair: Dick Heibel, 1244 E. Woodley St., Northfield, MN 55057. Phone: 1-507-645-4571.

-- Karen Youso