Black Globes
Mid-20th Century North American Industrial Globes
Steel
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Globes
Brass
20th Century American Art Deco Globes
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Balinese Globes
Sandstone
21st Century and Contemporary Balinese Globes
Sandstone
2010s Italian Globes
Iron
Late 20th Century European Globes
Metal
Early 20th Century Swedish Globes
Metal
Vintage 1950s Virgin Islands Mid-Century Modern Globes
Metal, Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes
Lucite
Antique Early 1900s Danish Art Nouveau Globes
Wood
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Globes
Metal
Vintage 1950s Belgian Modern Globes
Metal
Antique 1810s English Regency Globes
Wood
2010s British Globes
Steel
2010s British Globes
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century Globes
Wood
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes
Wood
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes
Metal
Antique 19th Century Italian Globes
Brass
Vintage 1950s Belgian Modern Globes
Metal
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes
Metal, Brass
Antique Mid-18th Century British Dutch Colonial Globes
Other
Antique 1770s English George III Globes
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Industrial Globes
Metal, Steel
Early 20th Century Swedish Art Nouveau Globes
Metal
Early 20th Century German Victorian Globes
Paper, Wood
Early 20th Century Industrial Globes
Metal
Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Globes
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Globes
Metal
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Globes
Wood
Antique 1710s German Dutch Colonial Globes
Other
2010s Italian Globes
Iron
Mid-20th Century Dutch Art Deco Globes
Brass, Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Globes
Copper, Gold
20th Century French Scientific Instruments
Metal
20th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Mounted Objects
Paint
Antique 1880s German Scientific Instruments
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Globes
Vintage 1950s American Globes
Brass
Mid-20th Century English Globes
Metal
2010s Chinese Globes
Stone, Lapis Lazuli, Sandstone
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Globes
Metal
Early 20th Century American Globes
Mahogany, Papier Mâché, Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Balinese Organic Modern Globes
Bronze, Stainless Steel
Vintage 1950s American Schoolhouse Globes
Paper, Wood
Late 20th Century American Modern Globes
Iron
Vintage 1980s French Globes
Metal
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Globes
Steel, Stainless Steel
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Globes
Metal
20th Century French Garden Ornaments
Limestone
Vintage 1950s American Globes
Vintage 1970s American Modern Globes
Metal
Vintage 1930s American Modern Globes
Bronze
20th Century Swedish Other Globes
Antique 19th Century French Globes
Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes
Plastic
Vintage 1940s American Globes
Vintage 1930s English Globes
Brass
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Black 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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