If you had a fine home during the high Victorian Era,(1860-1880), you most likely had a Parlor Dome, at least one, in your Parlor. Sometimes they were in pairs and would adorn the fireplace mantle, others would reside on the, center of the room table. Sizes and shapes varied from big to small,shot to tall and oval or round. Glass parlor domes were kinda a Victorian oddity,housing almost anything you could imagine. The domes made for the formal parlors were more or less full of flowers. Flowers made from paper, wax,silk,shells and real flowers dried. The art of artificial flower making was at it's height around 1860. Classes at ladies finishing school were offered. Kits were available to be order through the mail. Parlor Domes were not all home made, as a lot of department and jewelery stores offered them for sale, right off there show room floors. Large cities also had fine flower shops were a lady could purchase one for her home. This art form probably started in Europe,England or France, I am sure, as most home fashion trends of that day did. The empty glass domes could be purchases as well for those who liked to do it yourself. The domes always had a wood base and most of the time it was painted a shiny black. Little bun feet held it off the table. A braid or cord was put around the base of the glass dome to protect it. A grove was cut into the wood base for the glass dome to rest in.The glass is always very thin.All theses are hints in telling if a dome is old or not.
The flowers under the domes were of several forms. Often silk flowers that hat makers used, were the subject. Ladies hats and dresses were often decorated with these flowers. They could be ordered from a mail order catalog and most came from France. Some large cities like New York had department store that would have these flowers in stock. Hand made flowers from crepe paper were another favorite. Patterns were again available by mail. Kits were also sold. Some of these paper flowers were also dipped into hot wax after they were formed. Some people also dipped real cut flowers from there garden in wax. This was a very tricky process as the hot wax would often harm the flower. One trick that was used, was to let the real flower dry first, hand paint them and then dip it in wax. The wax flowers are very delicate and tend to break apart after say, 100 years or so.
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| A French Wire Basket dipped in wax forms the base for this arrangement. |
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| See all the broken pieces in here. I hardly ever take these domes off to clean,just too hard on the insides. |
Many forms of vases and baskets were used to hold the flowers under the domes. The favorite of most was a Vieux Paris,(Old Paris), flare vase. These were sold again by mail order,floral shops,or department stores. Holes were drilled in the bottom so they could be attached to the wood base. Plaster of Paris was most often used to hold the flowers in place.Natural wicker baskets were used and they too were dipped in the hot wax some times. Hand made baskets of seed and sea shells were also common. French wire baskets were also found in many a parlor dome
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| This is my favorite, a man walked into my shop in St.Louis one day caring this, I P-----my pants. He wanted to sell it and didn't want much for it. LUCKY_LUCKY DAY!!!!!!Guess who bought. Same man latter brought me 2 domes with birds. I love this man!!!! |
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| I love these roses. LOVE,LOVE,LOVE them! |
Often a fake feathered bird would be added as an extra touch. Some people also chose tiny pieces of wax fruit, again these could be purchased from a hat shop, flower shop, mail order or department store Once in awhile life size wax fruit pieces were also added. The domes with the large fruit pieces were more or less designed to be in a dining room.
If you were to looked at a mail order catalog around 1860-1860 you might see a dome listed like this. WAX FLORAL STUDY UNDER A GLASS DOME. SILK AND WAX FLORAL ARRANGEMENT WITH VIEUX PARIS PORCELAIN FLARE VASE. FLORAL STUDY WITH BIRD UNDER A PARLOR DOME. A PAIR OF FLORAL PARLOR DOMES SUITABLE FOR ANY FINE HOMES MANTLE. STRAIGHT FROM THE SALONS OF EUROPE-A FLORAL STUDY UNDER A GLASS PARLOR DOME.
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| This one came with a note telling who made it and who owned it. |
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| These flowers are all wax. |
I was a grown man before I ever had seen a Parlor Dome. I was in college and my roommate was from St.Louis.I was a farm boy, had never been to St.Louis, I spent the week end with him and he took me to a museum house. There in the parlor was this large glass dome on the center table full of flowers and birds. I was hooked and didn't rest till I had one. The first dome I bought was at a country auction. I was just out of college and teaching school. I went to this auction and there on the bed of a farm wagon, was this glass dome. It was full of wax fruit and candy. They were displayed on a glass cake plate, compote and a mug. I was in LOVE!!!!!!! Things were going high. In those days people were crazy about antiques and auction prices could go out of this world. It started to rain and a lot of people left.Not me, I just stood there in the pouring rain. The dome was one of the last items to sell. There was one other person interested in it, a dealer from out of town. He had to re-sale it, so could only bid so much. He stopped at $150 and I won with $175.Sound cheap,but you have to realize that was 1972 and that was a lot of money to a first term school teacher who was making $12,000 a year, I had to eat beans for awhile -but I had a DOME. I have carried that dome with me all these years,every time I move,it goes and goes and goes. After that, other domes have came into my life. I never could stop with just one of anything. If I saw one today, I am sure I would try and buy it. I told one of my friends,"IF I ever try to buy another Dome,break my arm"! The dome disease has rubbed of onto others ,I know,once they see mine. It is an awful sickness. I hope you never catch it.And the prices can be really high now days.So the cost of Dome medicine is dear.
Several years ago there was a article about my domes in Romantic Homes Magazine. It was written by a St.Louis friend,Elizabeth Maxon. If you have old issues you might like to look it up.
I am having open house this Sunday 2:00 to 4:00 to celebrate the article in Victorians Homes Magazine. My Nieces and Great Nieces are all coming to help. They love to get dressed all up and we all pretend it is 1860. I will post the party pictures Sunday evening or Monday. I hope we have a big turn out. Wish you all could come
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| Mother and Daughter |
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| Don't you just love those period shoes??? |
