Pair Globe Cary
Antique 1810s British Globes
Oak
Antique Late 18th Century English George III Globes
Wood, Paper
Antique Early 1800s English Globes
Mahogany
Antique 1790s English Regency Globes
Mahogany
Antique Early 19th Century English Globes
Mahogany
Antique 1810s English Globes
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century English Globes
Brass
Antique 19th Century English Regency Globes
Mahogany
Antique Early 19th Century English Globes
Mahogany
Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Globes
Mahogany
Antique Early 19th Century English Globes
Brass
Antique Early 1800s English Globes
Ebony
Antique 1790s English Globes
Shagreen
Antique 1850s British Victorian Globes
Other
Antique Early 19th Century Maps
Other
People Also Browsed
Antique 19th Century British Georgian Sofas
Leather, Hardwood
Antique Mid-19th Century English High Victorian Taxidermy
Other
Antique Mid-19th Century French Arms, Armor and Weapons
Steel
18th Century Portrait Paintings
Oil
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Canadian Natural Specimens
Stone
Vintage 1970s Italian Space Age Architectural Elements
Composition
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Bird Cages
Copper, Iron, Bronze
Antique 1890s German Dinner Plates
Porcelain
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Inkwells
Marble, Bronze
20th Century English Victorian Armchairs
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary European Victorian Taxidermy
Animal Skin
Antique 1860s French Napoleon III Doors and Gates
Bronze, Iron
Vintage 1960s German Rococo Dinner Plates
Gold
21st Century and Contemporary European Victorian Taxidermy
Animal Skin
21st Century and Contemporary European Victorian Taxidermy
Animal Skin
Antique 19th Century Belgian Gothic Revival Architectural Elements
Art Glass, Stained Glass
Recent Sales
Antique 1820s English George IV Globes
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century British Georgian Globes
Antique 1810s English George III Globes
Mahogany, Paper
Antique Early 19th Century English George III Globes
Brass
20th Century English Globes
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century British Victorian Globes
Wood
Antique 1810s English George IV Scientific Instruments
Mahogany
Antique Early 19th Century English George III Maps
Antique Early 19th Century British Scientific Instruments
Antique Early 19th Century English Globes
Brass
Antique 1810s British Globes
Oak
Antique 1790s English Globes
Wood
Antique 19th Century English Globes
Brass
Antique Early 1800s English Globes
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century English Globes
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century English Globes
Antique Early 19th Century English Globes
21st Century and Contemporary Globes
Shagreen
Antique Early 19th Century English George III Globes
Paper
Antique Early 19th Century English Globes
Brass
Antique 19th Century British Globes
Walnut
Antique Early 19th Century English Globes
Antique 19th Century English Globes
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century English Globes
Wood, Glass
Antique 19th Century English Regency Globes
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century English Globes
Wood
Antique 19th Century English Globes
Wood
Pair Globe Cary 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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