Garden Cloche

PeriodCirca 1850 -1900

MediumColorless glass

Dimensions18 × 10 in. (45.7 × 25.4 cm)

ClassificationsAgricultural T&E

Credit LineMuseum Collection

Object number1983.505

DescriptionA garden cloche or dome, of thick colorless glass, with straight cylindrical sides, a heavy base rim, and a curved top ending in a large knob handle.
Curatorial RemarksThe garden dome, or "cloche," French for "bell," appears to have been invented in Italy in around 1623. Their purpose was to create a warm environment for cold-sensitive garden plants. The heavy glass domes would be placed over seedlings such as cucumbers, tomatoes, and other vegetables. Sunlight would warm the air inside the cloche. When necessary, the domes could be slightly vented with wood blocks or bricks, and removed when temperatures rose. Because cloches were constructed of glass and used outside, many did not survive.

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