Napoleon III marriage globe w/ wedding bouquet 16½"

This nineteenth-century Napoleon III glass dome displays a bridal bouquet made of fabric.

During the nineteenth century, with the influence of the Victorian era's floriography, the language of flowers became more significant. Brides chose flowers with specific meanings, and preserving the bouquet allowed them to retain these symbolic messages. The preserved bouquet would often be displayed in a place of honor in the home, sometimes in a glass dome or frame, to protect it from damage and to keep the memories fresh.