Globes Terrestres Vintage
1960s German Modern Globes Terrestres Vintage
Wood
Mid-20th Century French Globes Terrestres Vintage
Wood, Paper
1950s Mid-Century Modern Globes Terrestres Vintage
Metal
Late 20th Century Globes Terrestres Vintage
Brass
1950s Globes Terrestres Vintage
Paper
1960s Globes Terrestres Vintage
Paper
1950s Globes Terrestres Vintage
Paper
1940s Globes Terrestres Vintage
Paper
1940s Globes Terrestres Vintage
Paper
Mid-20th Century German Globes Terrestres Vintage
Wood, Paper
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Mid-20th Century Italian British Colonial Globes Terrestres Vintage
Brass
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Marble, Metal
19th Century French Napoleon III Globes Terrestres Vintage
Fabric, Walnut
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Globes Terrestres Vintage
Brass
1960s Chinese Art Deco Globes Terrestres Vintage
Wool
1960s Globes Terrestres Vintage
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Art Deco Globes Terrestres Vintage
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Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Globes Terrestres Vintage
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Walnut
1930s German Art Deco Globes Terrestres Vintage
Brass
1940s Modern Globes Terrestres Vintage
Lithograph
Early 20th Century Globes Terrestres Vintage
Mahogany, Gesso, Wood, Paper
1920s French Art Deco Globes Terrestres Vintage
Iron
20th Century Unknown Art Deco Globes Terrestres Vintage
Wood, Paper
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Globes Terrestres Vintage
Stone
Early 20th Century French Globes Terrestres Vintage
Brass, Iron
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20th Century French Globes Terrestres Vintage
Paper
1970s American Modern Globes Terrestres Vintage
Metal
1950s Fauvist Globes Terrestres Vintage
Plaster, Synthetic Resin, Pigment
1960s Globes Terrestres Vintage
Paper
1940s German Art Deco Globes Terrestres Vintage
Metal
1950s Italian Globes Terrestres Vintage
1930s Mid-Century Modern Globes Terrestres Vintage
Metal
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Globes Terrestres Vintage
Aluminum
20th Century Globes Terrestres Vintage
Bronze
Globes Terrestres Vintage 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.
- What are vintage globes made of?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Vintage globes were created in a variety of materials and colors. Globes can be made of tin, cast iron, cardboard, wood and plaster. They also vary in size and design. Browse a selection of vintage globes from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
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