Homer Costello
Vintage 1920s American Industrial Globes
Iron
Vintage 1940s Globes
Paper
20th Century American Country Pedestals and Columns
Wood
People Also Browsed
Antique 19th Century British Industrial Apothecary Cabinets
Glass, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Mounted Objects
Metal
Antique Late 19th Century Scientific Instruments
Iron
Early 20th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Collectible Jewelry
Shell, Abalone, Mother-of-Pearl
Vintage 1980s American Hollywood Regency Abstract Sculptures
Brass, Cut Steel
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Windows
Lead
Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Baroque Figurative Sculptures
Lead
Vintage 1980s American Hollywood Regency Animal Sculptures
Brass, Iron
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Wall-mounted Sculptures
Brass
Vintage 1960s Italian Chandeliers and Pendants
Metal, Iron
Early 20th Century English Industrial Scientific Instruments
Bronze
Antique 19th Century Congolese Mounted Objects
Metal, Iron
Vintage 1970s Belgian Hollywood Regency Mounted Objects
Brass
Late 19th Century Old Masters Landscape Paintings
Oil
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes
Metal
Early 20th Century Indian Mounted Objects
Sterling Silver, Iron
Recent Sales
Vintage 1940s American Globes
Metal
English Globes
Brass
Early 20th Century American Globes
Wood, Paper
Vintage 1950s American Globes
Metal
Early 20th Century American Globes
Iron
Vintage 1940s American Globes
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Globes
Early 20th Century American Globes
Early 20th Century American Globes
Brass
Early 20th Century English Globes
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes
Metal
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Globes
Stainless Steel, Chrome
Vintage 1920s Globes
Paper
Antique Late 19th Century American Napoleon III Globes
Cast Stone
Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Photography
20th Century American Globes
Metal
Early 20th Century American Globes
Metal
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Globes
Early 20th Century American Globes
Vintage 1950s American Globes
Vintage 1930s American Globes
Early 20th Century Great Britain (UK) Globes
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Globes
Chrome
Vintage 1930s American Globes
Homer Costello 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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