For Collectors

History of Snowglobes | Articles

Snowglobes first appeared in Europe in the 1800s when the French filled a hollow glass sphere with fluids, building on the popularity of other glass artifacts and collectibles. Noone seems to have definitive information on when the very first snowglobe was created but there is agreement about when they first became popular. In the 1880s a manufacturer placed miniature replicas of the Eiffel Tower inside a glass globe which sat on a ceramic base. He sold these as souvenirs at the 1889 Paris Exposition, marking the centenary of the French Revolution. This was the start of, what is today, a major industry.

Today

Today, snowglobes and snowdomes are everywhere, commemorating everything and nearly everyone. From beach vacations to Christmas scenes, from Disney to Lord of the Rings, from Ben & Jerry to Neiman Marcus, snowglobes are taking over! With this amazing variety it's not surprising that snowglobes are now such collectibles. Serious collectors search out the unusual snowglobes while others simply collect snowglobes as mementos of their travels.

Send Us Stories

Whatever your reason for collecting, we'd like to hear from you and have the opportunity to showcase your collection on SnowinaGlobe. Send us your stories about what started you collecting snowglobes and any photos you might have.
We've gathered some resources that you might find useful - read more about the origins of snowglobes or take a look at collections from around the world.