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A snow globe is a Transparent Sphere usually made of glass enclosing a miniaturized scene of some sort, often together with a model of a landscape. The sphere also encloses the water in the globe; the water serves as the medium through which the "snow" falls. To activate the snow, one must shake the globe to churn up the white particles. Place it back onto a flat surface and watch the snow flakes flutter down. Today's snow globes often have a built-in music box that plays a christmas carol. Snow globes, snowdomes, snow shakers, snowstorms, waterglobes, waterdomes, waterballs, blizzard weights, shake 'em ups, shakies, snowies. Whatever you call them, virtual or real, they have a fascination for people young and old all round the world. HISTORY It isn't certain exactly when the first snowglobe was made but they appear to date from France during the early 1800s, possibly as a natural successor to the glass Paperweight , which had become popular a few years earlier. However, by 1879 at least five companies were producing snowglobes and selling them throughout Europe . In 1889 a snowglobe containing a model of the newly built Eiffel Tower was produced to commemorate the International Exposition in Paris , which marked the centenary of the French Revolution . This quickly became a favourite Souvenir for those attending. Snowglobes became popular in England during Victorian Times and, in the early 1920s, crossed the Atlantic to the United States Of America where they became a popular Collectors Item . Many of these were produced by the Atlas Crystal Works which had factories in both Germany and America. The first US patent was granted in 1927 to Pennsylvania’s Joseph Garaja. He then got Novelty Pool Ornaments to start manufacturing a fish version, underwater, in 1929 During the 1940s, snow globes were often used for advertising purposes in America whilst religious snowglobes were common gifts for Catholic children in Europe during the 1940s and '50s. Even Hollywood has been bitten by the snowglobe bug, with globes featuring in a number of films over the years, the most famous of which was in the opening moments of the 1941 classic '' Citizen Kane ''. In the 1950s, plastic snowglobes arrived on the scene. Nowadays there are many different types available, produced by a number of countries from the mass produced versions of Hong Kong and China to the finely crafted globes still produced in West Germany . They feature many different scenes, ranging from the typical holiday souvenir to collectible ranges featuring Christmas scenes, Disney characters, popular icons, Animals , Military figures, historical events, etc. Snowglobes have even been used for election campaigns. It appears that the list of subjects is endless. PRODUCTION Initially snow globes consisted of a heavy Lead Glass dome which was placed over a Ceramic figure or tableau on a black cast ceramic base, filled with Water and then sealed. The Snow was created by use of bone chips or pieces of Porcelain , sand or even sawdust. As they became more sophisticated, the glass became thinner, the bases were lighter (Bakelite was popular during the Art Deco period) and the Snow was made out of particles of gold foil or Non-soluble soap flakes although nowadays, for health and safety reasons, small pieces of white Plastic are used. Today's snowglobes can include Music Boxes , moving parts, internal Lights , and even Electric Motors that make the " Snow " move so that it isn't necessary to shake the globe. It is even possible to buy globes with a slot in the centre to display your own favourite Photograph . |
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