Globes de Mariee or Marriage Globes

This really beautiful old tradition came to my attention recently when a Globes de Mariee collector came into my shop and asked about buying an oval dome to replace one of her vintage displays. Since we make domes for preserved flowers, I was instantly fascinated and realized that we are continuing in modern times, a wedding tradition very similar to one that has been traced back to Louis XVI in France and ended in the early 1900's. Although this tradition did not really take off in America, it was still prevalent in France and some parts of Europe during Napoleon's time and later. I have since been obsessed with finding more information about this beautiful and sentimental idea.

To me these romantic and poetical expressions of a whole marriage speak of relationships that had depth and meaning. Traditional Globes de Mariee have small velvet covered chairs arrayed with the wedding memorabilia like the bride's floral headpiece, bisque figures, flowers, symbolic items, and gilded leaves selected for their symbolic properties from different types of plants based on what they wanted to express about their marriage, hopes and dreams. They also has small mirrors which are said to represent the number of children they hoped for. As the marriage evolved and children came along, or events happened, they added to the memory globe. As a collector's item they are now sought after and have become very expensive to buy. The world of marriage globes is fascinating and enjoyable and I hope you will enjoy a peek into the lives of people in a more lyrical time.