Terrestrial Library Globe
Vintage 1930s Globes
Wood, Paper
Vintage 1980s Globes
Other
Antique Late 19th Century Scottish Globes
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century British Globes
Glass, Wood
20th Century Italian Aesthetic Movement Globes
Wrought Iron
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Globes
Wood
Antique 1830s Globes
Wood
Early 20th Century German Globes
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Globes
Paper
Antique 19th Century English Regency Globes
Mahogany
20th Century Unknown Art Deco Globes
Wood, Paper
Antique 1810s British Globes
Oak
Antique 1850s British Victorian Globes
Other
Late 20th Century Globes
Brass
Vintage 1950s French Art Deco Globes
Metal, Aluminum, Chrome
Antique Early 18th Century German Baroque Globes
Other
Early 20th Century English Scientific Instruments
Walnut, Paper
20th Century American Country Pedestals and Columns
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Metal
Antique 19th Century English Regency Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
People Also Browsed
Antique 19th Century Indian Rustic Blanket Chests
Iron
Antique 1850s American American Classical Musical Instruments
Iron
Vintage 1950s English Renaissance Beds and Bed Frames
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Side Tables
Marble, Brass
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Modern Chairs
Copper, Pewter
21st Century and Contemporary English Chinoiserie Pier Mirrors and Conso...
Paint, Wood, Gesso
Antique Early 1900s American Arts and Crafts Bookcases
Brass
2010s British Louis XVI Sofas
Wood, Giltwood
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Musical Instruments
Ormolu
Antique 19th Century French Bookcases
Elm
Antique Early 1900s Italian Art Nouveau Globes
Metal
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
Antique 16th Century French Renaissance Armchairs
Walnut
Antique Early 1900s French Neoclassical Revival Grandfather Clocks and L...
Marble, Onyx, Bronze
Vintage 1920s American Art Deco Screens and Room Dividers
Paper
Antique 19th Century Italian Victorian Wardrobes and Armoires
Walnut
Recent Sales
Antique 19th Century English Globes
Wood, Papier Mâché, Watercolor, Paper
Antique Late 19th Century German Globes
Brass
Early 20th Century American Globes
Mahogany, Papier Mâché, Paper
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Globes
Antique 19th Century Scottish Regency Globes
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Globes
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Globes
Wood, Papier Mâché, Paper
Antique 19th Century English Globes
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century British Globes
Brass
Vintage 1920s Swedish Globes
Brass
20th Century British Globes
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century English Globes
Brass
Vintage 1930s American Globes
Antique 1790s English Globes
Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Globes
Plaster, Wood
Antique 1850s English Victorian Globes
Brass
Early 20th Century English Globes
Late 20th Century Globes
Beech
21st Century and Contemporary Globes
Shagreen
Antique 19th Century English Globes
Antique Early 1800s English Globes
Mahogany
Antique 1810s British Globes
Oak
Antique 19th Century British George IV Globes
Mahogany
Antique Early 19th Century English Globes
Vintage 1950s French Art Deco Globes
Metal, Aluminum, Chrome
Antique Late 18th Century French Neoclassical Scientific Instruments
Wood, Paper
Antique 1890s English Victorian More Desk Accessories
Brass
Antique 1890s Maps
Paper
Antique Late 19th Century Maps
Paper
Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Scientific Instruments
Brass
20th Century Italian Grand Tour Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
20th Century Italian School Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
Antique 1880s English Globes
Brass, Iron
Vintage 1920s American Campaign Globes
Mahogany, Paper
20th Century French Globes
Brass
Late 20th Century American American Classical Globes
Mahogany, Paper
Late 20th Century American Globes
Brass
Late 20th Century American Globes
Brass
20th Century American More Desk Accessories
Iron
Antique Mid-19th Century Scottish William IV Globes
Brass
Antique 19th Century English Globes
20th Century American Georgian Globes
Vintage 1950s American Globes
Brass
Early 20th Century English Globes
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century English Georgian Globes
Bronze
Antique 19th Century English Globes
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Globes
Brass
Antique 19th Century Globes
Antique 19th Century American Globes
Vintage 1930s American Globes
Antique 19th Century American Globes
Antique 19th Century British Regency Globes
Mahogany, Glass, Papier Mâché
Early 20th Century English Globes
Wood
Antique 19th Century English Globes
Brass
Antique 19th Century English Globes
Mahogany
20th Century American Globes
Paper
Antique 19th Century Globes
Antique 19th Century American Globes
20th Century English Globes
Vintage 1930s American Globes
Metal
Terrestrial Library Globe 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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