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Good Questions: Where does one find Bell Jars?

12-22-belljar.jpgHello AT,
I've been wondering for about a year now how to find decorative bell jars. I've seen them in lots of little designy type shops in Brooklyn and in my girlfriends Anthropologie catalogs but I can't seem to find them for sale anywhere, well except for at Anthropologie for prices that seem pretty dang rediculous for a hunk of glass. I've tried searching for them on the web but so far with much less success than I would have expected. A nice shopkeeper wouldn't sell me his but said he got it from a company called Roostco...

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...I looked up their website and it seems they only deal with licensed retailers. Where can one find these things at a reasonable price? I've got all kinds of near little curios but no rad bell jars to stick them under. It's very very sad. Thanks!
TJ

Dear TJ—
Outside of flea markets and John Derian(also expensive), we can't think of a definite solution. Candle stores or chemistry glass wholesalers? What about this one? Additionally, Smith & Hawken does have some rad pedestal terrariums that are reasonable...anyone out there know of a good resource? —aaron

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FYI, Anthropologie buys a lot of things from Roost, so its a good chance their bell jars are also from Roost

posted by john on 2006-12-22 13:05:14

This place sells bell jars, and lots of em.
http://www.englishcreekgardens.com/Cloche1.htm

sadly, none are as rad as the one pictured...

posted by ocgrl on 2006-12-22 13:07:15

Try looking for cheese cloches at kitchen/cooking stores.

Here's one at Sur La Table.
http://surlatable.com/common/products/product_details.cfm?PRRFNBR=18131

posted by katie on 2006-12-22 13:07:54

They're a little small, but Gardener's Supply Company has some.

posted by Trilobyte on 2006-12-22 13:09:08

Try American Science and Surplus.

http://www.sciplus.com/index.cfm

posted by soozle on 2006-12-22 13:10:32

i think i may have seen some at target through the smith and hawken line?...

posted by dolly on 2006-12-22 13:23:46

mothology.com has some but i don't see them on there anymore. maybe contact them?

posted by Christina on 2006-12-22 13:25:49

i've seen them at flea markets and they are not cheap, making the anthropologie price look not so bad.

i've also seen some at ABC Carpet and Home, also not cheap (duh).

posted by pc on 2006-12-22 13:31:39

Paxton Gate in San Francisco sells them. If you want the little wooden stand for the base, they are a little bit more.

http://www.paxtongate.com/home/Prod_Glass_BellJar(3)_11-06.htm

posted by emily on 2006-12-22 13:51:34

you could go to Corning which supplies my lab with much of its glassware:

http://catalog2.corning.com/Lifesciences/category.aspx?p=Containers@@@44@@@130®ion=NA&language=EN

has the listing for bell jars. they are expensive.

posted by jess on 2006-12-22 14:10:18

one more

https://new.fishersci.com/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_K9/.cmd/ad/.ar/sa.PortletNAVAction/.c/6_0_AJ/.ce/7_0_7TI/.p/5_0_33V/.d/0;jsessionid=0000MrXsl83jP2QtNIsXvoEI-1r:10hl0mne2?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fprodwcsserver%2Fwebapp%2Fwcs%2Fstores%2Fservlet%2FFisherProductDisplay&catalogId=29104&productId=685878&langId=-1&distype=2&isChemical=false&fromCat=yes&catCode=RE_SC
educational quality bell jars. much cheaper. but i'm still thinking with my lab budget and not my home budget.

posted by jess on 2006-12-22 14:17:29

try searching on ebay under cloche instead of bell jar. john derian has beautiful (and crazy expensive) antique ones.

posted by laura on 2006-12-22 14:20:08

I've seen them at pottery barn

posted by Ana on 2006-12-22 14:44:46

Tap Plastic ( http://www.tapplastics.com/ ) in San Francisco had several sizes of display domes for under $20 to $30 or so the last time I was there. Of course, they are plastic/plexi, so they are not as beautiful as the glass versions.

posted by Kyle in San Francisco on 2006-12-22 14:49:20

I see these Bell jars at Michael's Art's and Crafts. I saw them in an isle with dolls! They had wooden bases. Looked to be about 8 to 12" tall, and a 6 to 8" diameter. Good luck!

posted by Mark on 2006-12-22 15:09:25

I think I saw some at Soap Plant in Hollywood this weekend...

posted by Dianne on 2006-12-22 15:28:28

We sell these Museum Glass domes from Roost in small medium and large sizes, along with bases to go with them.
http://www.velocityartanddesign.com/roost_display_glassdome.html

They are really heavy and substantial in person.

Enjoy!

posted by John from Velocity on 2006-12-22 17:52:26

West Elm, man! I just saw a bunch in the Chelsea store the other day.

posted by Lady J on 2006-12-22 19:12:45

I'm not sure if you have these stores in the US, but I've seen just these sort of really large glass bell jars in Winners/Home Outfitters in Canada. And not too pricey either!

posted by KateL on 2006-12-22 20:41:49

the west elm bell jars have a stem in top, and them look cone shaped compared to the traditional bell jar. i bought my bell jar at abc carpet & home, expensive but beautifully made. this bell jar is blown glass, not pressed and that is reflected in the price. just a thought, have you checked ebay?

posted by patrick on 2006-12-22 21:34:39

Or try going to a college with a strong crafts and design department. Usually you can commission very able students to make custom glass objects for surprisingly reasonable prices. Because the bell jar would be clear, the cost of materials wouldn't be excessive (certain colours can drive the price up). Might be worth a try.

posted by rcm on 2006-12-23 02:12:43

Pottery Barn! They're a little more ornate than the one you have pictured.
http://www.potterybarn.com/products/p7478/index.cfm?pkey=ctenserall&cm%5Fsrc=campaign

They also have other ones as well. I hope you find it!

posted by Grace Yu on 2006-12-23 10:47:17

.


TJ wrote:
> I've tried searching for them on the web
> but so far with much less success than
> I would have expected.

Um, which web were you looking on?
Sorry to be snippy.

I Googled:
glass "bell jars"
and found these 6 vendors on the first two pages of my first search:

http://www.macbicnj.com/blanks/bjb.htm

http://www.lesker.com/newweb/Vacuum_Chambers/Std_GlassBellJar.cfm?CFID=246811&CFTOKEN=54461541§ion=vaccham&init=skip

http://www.thermionics.com/sect8/bell_jar.htm

http://wardsci.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_IG0014532_A_Glass+Bell+Jar+with+Molded+Knob

http://www.hyvac.com/Products/Systems/Bell_jar_specs.htm

http://www.amazon.com/Large-Glass-Bell-NOSIZE-CLEAR/dp/B0003UGPB0

Note, Amazon is currently sold out. Must be a hot holiday item.

cheers,
Chris


.

posted by chris (nyc) on 2006-12-24 04:10:38

Art Display Essentials have various sized glass domes (no top knots on them) and bases that are reasonably priced. I've gotten display thingies from this company before and can highly recommend both their advice, and their professionalism (nice people, too).
The largest glass dome I found in their catalog is 12" tall x 8" wide for $33.50.
This is their pre-made display catalog, but they also do custom display work.
As I said, reeeeaaaally nice people.
800.862.9869

posted by pc on 2006-12-26 09:32:58

Googling "display dome" also brings up some good hits.

posted by Jenni on 2006-12-26 13:51:34