Celestial Globe Cary
Antique 19th Century English Regency Globes
Mahogany
Antique Early 19th Century English Globes
Mahogany
Antique 1840s English Early Victorian Globes
Wood, Paper
Antique Early 19th Century English Globes
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century English Globes
Brass
Antique Late 18th Century English George III Globes
Wood, Paper
Antique Early 1800s English Globes
Mahogany
Antique 1790s English Regency Globes
Mahogany
Antique 1810s English Globes
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Globes
Mahogany
Antique Early 1800s English Globes
Ebony
Antique Late 18th Century English George III Aviation Objects
Plaster
Antique 1790s English Globes
Shagreen
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Scientific Instruments
Brass
Antique 1850s British Victorian Globes
Other
Antique Early 19th Century Maps
Other
Antique Early 19th Century English George III Aviation Objects
Plaster
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile
Antique 1820s English Arms, Armor and Weapons
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Figurative Sculptures
Gold
Antique Mid-18th Century British Dutch Colonial Globes
Other
Antique 19th Century English American Classical Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Antique 17th Century French Panelling
Softwood
21st Century and Contemporary French Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Iron
1970s Old Masters Portrait Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Ormolu
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Uruguayan Natural Specimens
Agate, Amethyst, Quartz
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese George II Dry Bars
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
Stainless Steel
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Jewelry Boxes
Velvet, Glass, Wood
2010s Canadian Patio and Garden Furniture
Aluminum
2010s English Neoclassical Fireplace Tools and Chimney Pots
Wood, Paint
Antique Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Decorative Boxes
Brass
Recent Sales
Antique 1820s English George IV Globes
Mahogany
Antique Early 19th Century English George III Globes
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century English Other Globes
Antique 19th Century British Georgian Globes
Antique 1810s English George III Globes
Mahogany, Paper
20th Century English Globes
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century English George III Maps
Antique Early 19th Century British Scientific Instruments
Antique Early 19th Century English Globes
Brass
Antique 1790s English Globes
Wood
Antique 19th Century English Globes
Brass
Antique 1810s Globes
Brass
Antique 19th Century English Globes
Mahogany
Antique Early 1800s English Globes
Mahogany
Antique Early 19th Century English George III Globes
Paper
Antique Early 19th Century English Globes
Antique 1790s English George III Maps
Shagreen, Paper
Antique Early 19th Century English George III Aviation Objects
Plaster
Antique Early 19th Century English Globes
Brass
Antique 1790s English George III Globes
Shagreen, Paper
Antique 1790s English George III Maps
Mahogany, Paper
Antique 1790s English George III Models and Miniatures
Shagreen, Paper
Antique 19th Century British Globes
Walnut
Antique Early 19th Century English Globes
Antique 1790s English Globes
Copper
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
Celestial 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.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Features of the night sky are a part of the celestial globe. The purpose of the globe is to show the positions of the stars and constellations when viewed from different locations on Earth. Find a variety of celestial globes on 1stDibs.
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