Saturday, January 23, 2010

Silver Sunday~ Antique Gazing Ball


Little did I know how difficult it would be to photograph my all-time favorite silver possession for this week's Silver Sunday.


Reflective silver things are hard to photograph well without being "in the picture".






This is a portion of my 12" diameter Antique Gazing Ball.

I bought it many years ago in Kentucky from an antiques dealer who specialized in garden antiques.

Gazing balls were first made in Venice in the 13th century. They were popular with the Victorians. Then again in the 1950's.

People tend to either LOVE them or HATE them.





I love this one because it is handblown. It is misshapen, irregular, and has a discolored surface.

I want to show you the end so you can see how the very old gazing balls were "finished off". The glass is nearly 3/8" thick and you can see the roughness where it was sliced after being blown.

Also you can see where the silvering ends on the neck.

The cork is original.





I don't know how old it is. I do know it is older than the ones my parents sold in their home and garden shop in the 1950's. My guess is l930's or earlier.

This is my "Dressing Room" reflected in the gazing ball. You can see part of my dress form collection!


To visit other Silver Sunday participants click the button on my sidebar.

How do you feel about gazing balls. LOVE them or HATE them????

42 comments:

  1. Love them!!! What's not to love...old, worn and silver.

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  2. I do love the silver gazing balls, not the color ones. Love your dressing room and all those hats too!

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  3. I too love the old silver gazing balls! they look wonderful in a garden!

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  4. How could anyone not like gazing balls? Yours is just beautiful. What a cherished piece...julie

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  5. I have always wanted to purchase one of these. Yours are beautiful. Thanks for sharing
    Maggie

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  6. How fun, love it and love the reflections, it's always neat when something glass like that still survives after all the years.

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  7. Absolutely love this post! My husband loves gazing balls and I hated them....thought they were tacky. But....for our 25th wedding anniversary I bought him a silver gazing ball....he loved it!...and funny thing...so do I now! It currently is sitting on top of our piano amidst a collection of mercury glass items....looks pretty good! Your antique gazing ball is wonderful...have never seen one close up and appreciate the history lesson!
    Take care,Laura

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  8. Yes, it's always funny taking pictures of silvers as you are reflected.....I so love gazing balls...yours is gorgeous!
    Happy SS!
    xojanis

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  9. What a unique way to post your item. I love that! Happy SS!

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  10. When I was a child, I thought those old gazing balls were so very 'city' and so glam! Yours is certainly to be cherished!

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  11. It's wonderful Joan, and I love the way you photographed it. Very creative. Have a wonderful day!
    Blessings,
    Marcia

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  12. The only thing gazing balls are good for is getting a peak at dress forms which I LOVE!

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  13. I used to not like them and then a friend gave me a new one as a gift. Since having it in my garden for several years I have come to love it. It sits among my pink azaleas and when they bloom in the Spring the reflection in the ball is just beautiful. I have never seen an old one for sale. Yours would look spectacular resting on my silver sunday item for today (someone else mentioned this too). xo Happy Silver Sunday.

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  14. The only gazing balls I like are the silver ones...I agree with Laura the other ones are tacky! except maybe the blue ones. It was funny learning more about them!
    xo,
    Carole

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  15. I have gazing ball envy! Thank you for showing all the angles in yours! I'm glad they don't sell these just anywhere, but I wish I had my own, too!

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  16. I really like gazing balls and I must say that I am partial to silver ones like yours and of course, vintage.
    Great Post. Happy Silver Sunday.

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  17. Your silver gazing ball has turned me into a fan of them!

    xoxo
    Jane

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  18. Beautiful gazing ball...I have one in my garden, but it isn't new.

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  19. Hi Joan,
    You always have the most unique items. The gazing ball is very cool, I love the discolored surface.
    Jane

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  20. I love them! My grandparents had one in their garden and I've wanted one for years. Maybe this year.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Nancy

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  21. Love them with all their reflectiveness {is that even a word?}...and I have to agree, it's very hard to photograph silver, especially for me a novice photographer!

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  22. They have always fascinated me. I can remember as a child that seeing a blue one is someone's yard was like finding a treasure. They were once so "in" and then became tacky...and now, seem to be coming into their own again. Yours really is a treasure.

    Sue

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  23. OMG the silver gazing ball is fabulous!! I can't imagine not having one.... if I had a garden!!! I do love the mercury glass, the patina is so beautiful, I like to keep it out all year round!!!
    Hugs,
    Margaret B

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  24. Hi Joan
    Well you can count me in the 'LOVE IT' bucket.. You know I have never heard of gazing balls!! Where have I been.. Oh that's right in the backwaters downunder.. haha You would think with my love of all things Venetian I would of clued on to this by now...

    Well I definitely love it... and glad you had so much fun photographing it's finery..I'm enjoying participating in SS also.. My Silver things are some of my favourites. Have a great week xx Julie

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  25. Such a lucky girl! Your final shot of your dressing room reflected in the gazing ball is amazing..just amazing!Thanks for coming...see you next Sunday!
    {{gypsy hugs}}
    Beth

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  26. The gazing ball is stunning ... as is the picture of the dressing room, seen thru the eyes of the gazing ball ... VERY cool!!


    xo
    Jill

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  27. Hi Joan.
    Love your gazing ball, and today's post. Great photos.
    xoxo
    Donna

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  28. I am a big fan of gazing balls. My old ones decorate the inside of my house. Unfortunately I have lost 2 of them outside, one to a deer mishap, the other to a day of Bocci Ball. Oh well.

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  29. beautiful! love them. and i know exactly what you mean about photographing silver, i'm always ducking down or behind things so i don't get in the shot!

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  30. Hi Joan
    Very cool! Love it all.
    Blessings

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  31. Love them, would love to see pic of your dress forms!

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  32. It is SO beautiful!!!!
    I've never seen one with a cork.
    Is that the "stem" on the ball?
    What a find--- you are the BEST at finding the COOL stuff!
    annie

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  33. thanks for sharing. I have always loved them in the garden. I have one but it isn't silver. I think I would like a silver one in my garden. TFS, Happy Silver Sunday!

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  34. What an awesome gazing ball and the reflection of the room is sure pretty. You have a nice collection. Happy Silver Sunday....

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  35. I like them! Although I don't have one, I believe I will just have to have one! Thanks for sharing yours with us!

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  36. Oh, I Love the Way you did these Photos, the Reflection is Wonderful ~ I have always Loved Gazing Balls, this one Takes the Prize~
    Cheryl

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  37. Your dressing room is beautiful. The heart boxes you've transformed beautifully into works of art!
    Candylei

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  38. Well, I happen to just LOVE gazing balls. I find them fascinating, and their colors are usually particularly nice. Love the silver. Nice find...

    Kitty

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  39. Its old - its silver - why wouldn't we just LOVE it!!! They are like looking into another dimension. So cool. Thanks for sharing

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  40. Ooooh! Love 'em! Yours is gorgeous. Sorry my Sunday Silver visit is so late but I do love your silver post!
    xoxo...Kathy

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