German man shatters his own world record with more than 11,000 snow globes
German collector Josef Kardinal has turned Christmas into a spectacle. He now owns more than 11,000 snow globes — the largest collection in the world — a Guinness World Record he shattered by surpassing his own previous tally. Kardinal first earned the record back in 2002 when he owned a mere 6,100 snow globes and has continued to amass winter treasures, which have since grown to 11,017. His collection began in 1984 and ranges from eccentric pieces like a Harley-Davidson themed knick-knack that makes a motorcycle sound as it moves, to another that holds a replica of the Titanic that appears to be sinking. “I love the romance of snow globes and how beautiful they are when you shake them up and the snow falls down,” Cardinal, who keeps the winter wonderlands in the basement of his Nuremberg home, told the record book. “People love snow globes as they encapsulate a perfect world. Obviously one that is not realistic and that is why we gravitate towards them.” The oldest one in his collection was made in 1889 in Paris with an Eiffel Tower inside, and his smallest is the size of a fingernail and doubles as a wearable pin. He also has other novelties he acquired during the COVID-19 pandemic — one with a roll of toilet paper inside and another with a snowman wearing a mask. No snow globe collection is complete without one paying homage to Taylor Swift, and Kardinal has one that holds a mini typewriter from her 2024 album “The Tortured Poets Department” — and when it’s shaken, pages with her lyrics swirl around inside.
In This Article:
- From 6 100 to 11 017 the climb to a new record
- A basement museum in Nuremberg
- Harley Davidson to Titanic a globe range of unusual pieces
- Oldest and tiniest snow globes in the trove
- COVID era curiosities and a masked snowman
- Taylor Swift homage the mini typewriter globe
- What readers think post a comment
From 6 100 to 11 017 the climb to a new record
Kardinal first earned his Guinness World Record back in 2002 when he owned a mere 6,100 of them — and kept on amassing the winter treasures, which have since grown to 11,017. His collection began in 1984 and now ranges from outrageous pieces to sentimental keepsakes.
A basement museum in Nuremberg
The winter wonderlands are stored in the basement of Kardinal’s home in Nuremberg, creating a private museum of glistening scrolls of glass and snow.
Harley Davidson to Titanic a globe range of unusual pieces
His collection includes pieces like a Harley-Davidson themed knick-knack that makes a motorcycle sound as it moves, and another that holds a replica of the Titanic that appears to be sinking, illustrating the breadth of whimsy in his trove.
Oldest and tiniest snow globes in the trove
The oldest one in his collection was made in 1889 in Paris with an Eiffel Tower inside, and his smallest is the size of a fingernail and doubles as a wearable pin.
COVID era curiosities and a masked snowman
Kardinal also has novelties he acquired during the COVID-19 pandemic — one with a roll of toilet paper inside and another with a snowman wearing a mask.
Taylor Swift homage the mini typewriter globe
No snow globe collection is complete without one paying homage to Taylor Swift, and Kardinal has one that holds a mini typewriter from her 2024 album “The Tortured Poets Department” — and when it’s shaken, pages with her lyrics swirl around inside.
What readers think post a comment
What do you think? Post a comment.
