Even cheap plastic snow globes have an element of magic about them. Flick your wrist, and the flakes swirl down upon a tropical beach, the Empire State Building, a steepled church at Christmastime, even a favorite photo you insert into the heart of the sphere. But the vintage globes—glass domes encapsulating miniature winter landscapes caught in a blizzard—create true fairy-tale enchantment.
A bit of history:
In 1900, an Austrian surgical instruments mechanic named Erwin Perzy tried to improve on the brightness of early electric light bulbs by placing a glass globe filled with water in front of the light. Not satisfied with the result, he added reflective particles to the water–semolina at the time–and was struck by beauty of the falling particles, which reminded him of snow. The snow globe was born. Original Vienna Snow Globes, the Perzy family company, made the early globes, including the one featured in the movie Citizen Kane. The company remains in operation. To learn more, read the BBC article, The Family Company that Invented the Snow Globe.
A bit of fiction:
Once upon a time, a German immigrant to Chile, Johannes Schmitt, hired a local glassblower (from Austria of course) to make him a snow globe. For the landscape, he provided a photograph of one of his favorite places—the soaring Torres del Paine mountains of southern Patagonia. The globe became a treasured family heirloom, passed down through several generations. But it also seemed to have a peculiar effect on certain people, stirring up more than artificial snow …
Which is why I have tentatively titled my novel-in-progress, The Snow Globe.
Dear Kathryn,
I have just read and so enjoyed your blog about your adventures to and in Chile! You write with such description I can picture your train ride, the rivers, explorations of the city and town/village, river with colorful boats, delicious seafood that I wish I had enjoyed with you! The pictures are wonderful with beauty and show visual glimpses of what you are seeing and experiencing. I, of course, am enticed to read your newest novel! Thanks so much for sharing your adventure with us!
I am having an extraordinary adventure in Sevilla and one weekend in Germany with our former exchange student (and snow). Unfortunately, like you I experienced an airplane delay which caused me to miss my flight in Munich back to Sevilla and had to fly to Madrid, then take a taxi to the train station, then take a train to Sevilla arriving at 11:15 PM. It was quite an adventure. Perhaps you will see the photos I sent Kate to forward to the Stitchers of the pasos and paseos that have begun here this Holy Week.
You are nearing the end of your adventure there. I have one more week here. My time has passed very quickly and with lots of good memories.
Safe travels home,
Lois
Thank you! I saw the photos from Semana Santa in Sevilla. What a gorgeous tradition. You should start your own blog. How’s the Spanish going? Don’t forget our Spanish-only luncheon, when you will explain the truth behind ‘quite an adventure.’