Terrestrial Globes
20th Century British Napoleon III Globes
Paper
Mid-20th Century British Globes
Oak
Early 20th Century French Napoleon III Globes
Paper
Antique Early 1900s Danish Art Nouveau Globes
Wood
Early 20th Century French Napoleon III Globes
Wood, Paper
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Globes
Wood
Vintage 1920s Globes
Paper
Early 20th Century French Aesthetic Movement Globes
Paper
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Globes
Iron
Antique Late 19th Century German Napoleon III Globes
Paper
Antique 19th Century English Globes
Mahogany
Early 20th Century Hungarian Globes
Metal
Antique Early 1900s Italian Art Nouveau Globes
Metal
Antique Mid-19th Century English Globes
Mahogany
Vintage 1950s German Bauhaus Globes
Brass
Early 20th Century German Aesthetic Movement Globes
Paper
20th Century Italian Aesthetic Movement Globes
Wrought Iron
Mid-20th Century Italian Scientific Instruments
Metal
Early 20th Century German Globes
Copper
Vintage 1930s Arts and Crafts Globes
Beech
20th Century Unknown Art Deco Globes
Wood, Paper
Vintage 1930s American Neoclassical Revival Globes
Bronze
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Globes
Wood
Late 20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Models and Miniatures
Iron
Late 20th Century American Modern Maps
Metal
Early 20th Century Swedish Globes
Metal
20th Century Renaissance Globes
Wood, Paper
Antique 1880s Scientific Instruments
Marble
Early 20th Century French Globes
Brass, Iron
Vintage 1930s German Globes
Marble, Brass
20th Century French Scientific Instruments
Metal
Antique 1890s French Napoleon III Globes
Paper
Early 20th Century French Maps
Wood, Paper
Antique 1850s American American Empire Globes
Brass
Antique 1840s English Globes
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century German Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique Mid-18th Century French Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique 19th Century Dutch Models and Miniatures
Wood, Paper
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Globes
Brass
Antique 1880s German Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique 1890s French Globes
Paper
Early 20th Century German Globes
Paste, Wood, Paper
Antique Early 19th Century English Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique 1840s English Early Victorian Maps
Bronze
Late 20th Century American British Colonial Globes
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Globes
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Globes
Paper
Vintage 1940s French Scientific Instruments
Wood, Paper
Early 20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Brass
Vintage 1950s French Scientific Instruments
Marble, Brass
Antique 19th Century English Regency Globes
Mahogany
Antique Early 19th Century English Globes
Mahogany
Early 20th Century English Scientific Instruments
Walnut, Paper
Antique 19th Century British Late Victorian Globes
Fruitwood, Paper
Antique 1820s English Regency Globes
Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Globes
Fruitwood, Paper
Antique Late 19th Century French Late Victorian Globes
Plaster, Paper
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Globes
Metal
Antique Mid-19th Century British Globes
Glass, Wood
Antique 1770s English George III Globes
Wood
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Terrestrial Globes For Sale on 1stDibs
Finding the Right globes for You
Antique and vintage globes can prove unique and interesting accents to your living space, whether on their own as provocative conversation pieces or part of a small collection dotting the shelves where your sculptures and other decorative objects live.
Globes are among the most ancient of scientific instruments. During the Age of Exploration, they were vital for navigation, bringing sailors home after perilous journeys on different trade routes. Globes didn’t just detail continental formations, they might also show astronomical positions — adventurous seafarers of the day would rely on stars’ positions in traveling the great waters ahead of them. Antique globes offer a glimpse into specific time periods and how peoples of the past navigated the world around them. These were tools that identified a region’s borders, the names of countries, territories and more as the Earth’s geography was once known or imagined. As information about a place became available to geographers over time, globes became more accurate.
Not all globes depict the Earth and its countries, landmasses and bodies of water. The models that do are known as terrestrial globes, while globes that detail the position of the stars and other heavenly bodies are called celestial globes.
Quite surprisingly, the construction of globes remains relatively unchanged from the 16th century. The base starts as two papier-mâché hemispheres, which have a wooden support pillar attached via the north and south poles. The hemispheres are joined with glue or sewn with string and are subsequently topped with more paper or even thin fabric. Lastly, the globe is covered with plaster, ready for the design to be pasted on top.
Perhaps even more surprising is that the decorative function of globes has not changed much since the 16th century. They’ve been given as gifts for hundreds of years, as globes have always been beautiful objects whether they’re in your home office or your living room, lining your mantel alongside other globes of different sizes. Recent globe designs offer modern variations in style and features, such as interior lighting, automatic rotation and more.
Today, vintage trunks and luggage have reappeared as furniture or decorative home accents in a bedroom or foyer. This likely owes to wanderlust, nostalgia and a shared love of good design. Decorating with globes is similarly rooted in the allure of travel and a penchant for the stylish finishing touch that collectibles bring to our homes. Antique globes add welcome doses of color and contrast to a house or apartment’s neutral corners, their sea blues and algae greens popping against reclaimed wood interiors or stone fireplaces.
On 1stDibs, you can find a collection of authentic antique and vintage globes including mid-century modern, Georgian, Art Deco editions and more.
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