╳ Bell Jars

╳ A bell jar is a piece of glass labware with a rounded top and an open bottom, however there are a myriad of uses for these buxom lovlies, although  historically, they have been used to create a vacuum for scientific experiments.   A bell jar could be used to protect and display delicate objects, such as heirloom porcelain (the Victorians were particularly fond of this sort of display) and gardeners also use bell jars, to protect delicate plants and when used with outdoor plants, they can minimize frost damage or protect a plant from insects.  In 1963, Sylvia Plath published the novel, The Bell Jar.  In it, Plath used the bell jar as a metaphor to talk about the repression of women in American society, and the title references the fact that a bell jar essentially traps something to keep it on display. 

╳  In the work of Scottish artist Georgia Russell, (middle image) who transforms printed matter such as books, newspapers and maps by dissecting, manipulating and reconstructing them, Ms Russell uses bell jars to encase her fragile pieces; and bell jars have even been used as part of installation artworks such as ‘Bell Jar Constructions,’ (top image) an inter-active, conceptual artwork exploring time, the self, cause and effect.  Bell jars are simply divine, there isn’t another object that has the ability to transform mundane into magical!