Fabulous Little Things: The Terrarium



The offending party.  Never again.

 I'm not going to lie, I used to hate Terrariums.  All the teachers I had in grade school had one on the corner of their taupe Steelcase desks with the laminate imitation wood tops.  I remember them as they truly were; gauche fish bows filled with dirt and gravel with a fern and an African violet stuck inside.  If the owner fancied herself artistic or witty, you might be lucky enough to find a smiling ceramic frog or snail tucked inside, their googly eyes looking up at you.  Gag me.  The condensation and calcium crust that circled the soil line did not build a bridge to my black bitter heart either.  I was a complex person, even in child form.

But things are changing for the better.  Terrariums are once again in style, but they are actually quite stylish.  Gone are the fish bows and 3" potted plants.  In their places are hand blown terrariums, faceted glass and brass cases, and the good old fashioned cloche; all filled with Orchids, Fly Traps, and the occasional Bromeliad.  They're lovely on a kitchen counter, the dining table or any place you want to add a little life and dimension.  And don't feel bad about filling these with faux plants.  Just because you have a black thumb doesn't mean you have to be honest about it.

- Ian

From Anthropologie, a suspended style by Esque Studios of Portland, Or.
Hanging from a leather harness, this hand blown piece connotes teardrops
and bowling pins.  At 26" tall and 16" wide, this piece is not short on
impact.  With a retail price of $1,450.00, hang this one in a safe place
far from kids, pets, drafts and swinging doors. 

The Conservatory Cloche from restoration Hardware.
At an immense 25" x 31" could dramatically house in Neo-Victorian splendor
exotic lady slipper orchids, or an air garden of Bromeliads.
The cloche retails for $595.00.

Hanging bubble Terrarums from Shane Powers at West Elm.
The over wrought Terrariums Hipster/Granola younger sibling.
The one who likes flannel and Tom's and Soy.
Minimalist geometry shows plants as art forms, each
encased in a transparent bubble.
Sizes range from 4" to 13".  Priced from $9.00 - $24.00. 

The Francesca Jars from Z Gallerie could be filled with Succulents planted
in sand, pebbles, or even tiny shells for a wonderful effect.
$49.00 - $59.00.  Sizes 10" x 15" and 9.5" x 23".

Wisteria offers two sizes of the classic glass cloche.  The large is shown here.
Made of soda glass, the simple cloche comes with a stone plate.

Fill with your hearts desires.  Perhaps a miniature Rose or Azalea

or, for something more poetic, a single large Magnolia blossom. 

16" x 14".  Retails for $99.00