Interior Display: Sculptural Domed Focal Points With “Cloches”

The Cloche. A versatile and sculptural object of function. Formed from a solid piece of glass in the shape of a dome, the term “Cloche” literally means “Bell” in French yet earlier origins of the “Cloche” are linked to the Medieval Latin word “Clocca”. The first known use of the term “Cloche” was in 1882 although the object itself was first used in Italy in the early 1600’s. Quite the longevity of purpose and function. Variations of the cloche are many, yet the traditional clocheflares at the bottom to resemble a bell. Thus, cloches are commonly referred to as “Bell Jars” and “Domes”. Sculptural interest with purpose.

The “Cloche”: Versatile Domed Glass

Of interest, the earliest documentation regarding the use of the cloche can be found in John Eveyln’s Elysium Britannicum, circa 1630. The…