{"product_id":"antique-french-glass-garden-cloche-hand-blown-19th-c-cloche-a-melon","title":"Antique French Glass Garden Cloche | Hand-Blown Melon Cloche | 19th Century","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe shape is what makes this antique French glass garden cloche so charming. It rises higher than the wide \"salad cloches,\" indicating its purpose: to cover a smaller but growing melon. You can immediately imagine it in a French potager, sitting over young melons or tender spring plants while the pale green glass catches the morning light.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKnown in France as a cloche à melon, this garden cloche was made to trap warmth and protect young plants from cold nights, wind and garden pests. It likely dates from the 19th century, around 1850 to 1900 and is consistent with hand-blown French garden glass from the period. The soft green tint comes from the natural iron content in the glass, giving it that color we love in old utilitarian French glass.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe glass was blown by hand in one piece and the age shows beautifully. Small air bubbles are suspended throughout the wall.  The thickness shifts slightly from place to place and the surface has that gentle movement that modern molded glass never quite has. The broad rolled rim gave the cloche stability when placed directly over soil, while the tall bell form created room for the plant to grow underneath.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eToday, it would still be beautiful in the garden over herbs, strawberries, young lettuces or seedlings. Indoors, it would be wonderful on a farmhouse table, kitchen counter or sideboard covering a bowl of pears, lemons, market tomatoes or a small terracotta pot. It brings light, color and the feeling of an old French kitchen garden into the home.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Provence Collection","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53567894782295,"sku":"OUT-008","price":405.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0938\/4686\/4215\/files\/antique-french-glass-garden-cloche-hand-blown-19th-c-cloche-a-melon-2.jpg?v=1779189329","url":"https:\/\/theprovencecollection.com\/products\/antique-french-glass-garden-cloche-hand-blown-19th-c-cloche-a-melon","provider":"The Provence Collection","version":"1.0","type":"link"}