Globes
Antique, New and Vintage Globes
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Globes
Metal, Copper
1830s English William IV Antique Globes
Paper, Wood
1920s American Georgian Vintage Globes
Walnut
Mid-20th Century German Art Deco Globes
Metal
Late 20th Century German Hollywood Regency Globes
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Metal, Chrome
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes
Lucite
1950s American Vintage Globes
Iron
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Globes
Metal, Brass
Late 20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Globes
Metal
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Metal
1950s French Art Deco Vintage Globes
Metal, Aluminum, Chrome
19th Century French Victorian Antique Globes
Marble, Ormolu
Early 1900s German Art Nouveau Antique Globes
Brass
2010s British Globes
Aluminum
1940s American Vintage Globes
Aluminum, Steel
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Globes
20th Century American Globes
Walnut
1760s French Antique Globes
Wood, Paper
Late 20th Century Globes
Wood
1920s British Vintage Globes
Gesso, Wood, Paper
1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Brass
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Globes
Teak
Early 20th Century French Napoleon III Globes
Paper
20th Century Unknown Art Deco Globes
Wood, Paper
Late 19th Century German Antique Globes
Wood, Paper
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes
Plastic, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Globes
Beech, Walnut
Early 1800s English Antique Globes
Mahogany
1930s Machine Age Vintage Globes
Steel
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Steel
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Globes
Brass
15th Century and Earlier Uruguayan Antique Globes
Agate, Amethyst, Quartz
Mid-20th Century Italian Globes
Brass
Late 20th Century European Globes
Metal
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Metal
1960s Scandinavian Modern Vintage Globes
Resin, Teak, Walnut
20th Century American Art Deco Globes
1940s American Vintage Globes
Aluminum
1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Metal
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Globes
Metal, Brass
Mid-19th Century French Antique Globes
Glass, Wood, Paper
1950s American Vintage Globes
Metal, Steel, Tin
1920s European Other Vintage Globes
Steel
Mid-20th Century Asian Art Deco Globes
Marble, Brass
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes
Metal
Mid-20th Century Globes
Wrought Iron
Mid-20th Century Italian Globes
Iron
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Globes
Metal, Brass
2010s Italian Globes
Iron
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Metal
1920s American Industrial Vintage Globes
Iron
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Steel
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes
Brass
17th Century Italian Antique Globes
Wood
Mid-20th Century Globes
Crystal
Mid-19th Century English Antique Globes
Mahogany
Antique, New and Vintage Globes
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.