They're usually found in the front or back yards of older homes in the suburban to rural areas. They come in red, blue or green, mostly. Are they supposed to represent something?
2006-07-31 03:57:46 · 11 answers · asked by ? 6 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
That is a Victorian gazing ball. It's mirror finish allows you to see the garden from different perspectives. They were popular in victorian gardens-- a time period when the middle class started really getting interested in decor rather than function because they had more time.
The balls started to resurge do to all the decorating shows on HGTV etc over the past few years.
2006-07-31 05:02:22 · answer #1 · answered by adieu 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Gazing balls,,, used by most because they are interesting and add a little different element to a garden.
Gazing balls actually go back to Grecian times (recall all the wonderful things they were doing with glass?) and were placed in the center of the gardens to reflect all the beautiful colors, adding to the serenity. It was thought to help relax body and soul for deeper contemplation of all those philosophical discussions they were always having. And of course, the Greeks loved beauty and were always coming up with more ways to express and extend it. Now gazing balls come in many different colors but my advise is stick with the silver.
2006-07-31 04:28:59 · answer #2 · answered by angel334u_99 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only Gazing Ball lore I have ever heard is that during the Victorian era, gazing balls were placed in gardens to attract fairies. Back then they believed in the existence of fairies and hoped that it would give them a chance to catch a glimpse of one. It was believed that fairies were attracted to the gazing balls because they could not resist looking at their own beauty in their reflection. I always thought it was a great story and never forgot it.
2006-07-31 18:53:56 · answer #3 · answered by Valkyrie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have one I can not use because of my son, but I did an image search on yahoo for gazing balls and there are some really nice ones out there. They look really pretty other than just solid colored ones. Mine is all red. To me just a pretty decoration.
2006-07-31 04:40:06 · answer #4 · answered by Evey 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gazing balls and I don't know if they are suppost to represent any thing or not. I think there pretty but can't have one with a 16 year old boy in the house. It wouldn't last for very long.
2006-07-31 04:13:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They were originally used for fishing, so it's always strange to me that people want to decorate with them. Like people thinking a spinning wheel is a decoration. In the future will someone use an antique copy machine as a decoration??
2006-07-31 04:03:17 · answer #6 · answered by Molly 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are decorations and they are mirrored so that you supposedly can see a better view of the garden through the mirror. They are commonly referred to as gazing balls.
2006-07-31 04:02:05 · answer #7 · answered by Paula P 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there called gazing balls there put into places that dont or there suppose to be used to reflect light into shaded areas that need more light and were used in the Victorian era
2006-07-31 04:30:05 · answer #8 · answered by diggin_thedirt 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are called gazing balls and originated during the Victorian era.
2006-07-31 04:08:53 · answer #9 · answered by 60s Chick 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a viewing ball- it's just a mirrored ball that looks nice.
I don't think they mean anything, just popular right now.
2006-07-31 04:01:52 · answer #10 · answered by ladders_to_fire 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋