Pair of Napoleon III Glass Domes w/ Biscuit Porcelain Floral Bouquets - 19¾"

A romantic pair of Second Empire glass domes, each sheltering an intricately composed hand-modeled biscuit porcelain bouquet interwoven with delicate fabric leaves and blossoms. At the heart of each arrangement, softly modeled roses in shades of blush and dusky pink rise among clusters of ivory and white flowers, their layered petals giving depth and movement to the composition. Smaller blooms and foliage branch outward on fine stems, creating a sense of natural abundance. Each bouquet is set in an ornate porcelain vase with pierced and gilt decoration, resting on an ebonized circular base trimmed with its original velvet lining. Minor losses to the biscuit porcelain flowers, along with fading and staining to the fabric elements and age-related wear to the bases and velvet trim, all contribute to their authentic period character.

Made in France in the late 19th century, domed floral arrangements like these belong to the broader tradition of the globe de mariée and related parlor displays, conceived as keepsake compositions protected beneath glass and often associated with marriage, memory, and the rituals of domestic life.  In this example, the bouquets are notably executed in biscuit porcelain, a more durable and finely modeled medium than the wax and textile elements often found in wedding domes, giving the flowers crisp definition and a soft, matte petal quality that reads as particularly refined and comparatively uncommon. Display the pair on a mantel, console, or library shelf where their gentle color and transparency lend depth and quiet romance. They style beautifully with dark wood, marble, or silvered finishes, and they anchor a vignette of books, portraits, or candlelight. 

Display the pair on a mantel, console, or vanity, where their delicate silhouettes introduce a note of romantic charm, enriching living rooms, libraries, and bedrooms with a mood that is nostalgic and softly dramatic. In contemporary décor, they offer a poetic counterpoint to clean lines and pared-back materials, while in more traditionally layered interiors they sit naturally among books, ceramics, and heirloom objets.