Globes
Early 19th Century English George III Antique Globes
Mahogany, Paper
1840s English Early Victorian Antique Globes
Wood, Paper
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Globes
Metal, Brass
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Globes
Metal, Brass
1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Aluminum
1980s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Crystal, Bronze
2010s Italian Globes
Iron
Mid-19th Century American Antique Globes
Brass
19th Century British Napoleon III Antique Globes
Paper
1850s American Antique Globes
Glass, Wood, Paper
1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Fiberglass, Lucite
Early 1900s Danish Art Nouveau Antique Globes
Wood
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Globes
Metal, Steel
1950s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Metal
2010s Italian Globes
Iron
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes
Steel
1930s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Plaster, Wood
19th Century American Antique Globes
Blown Glass, Wood
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Wood
2010s Italian Globes
Iron
2010s Italian Globes
Iron
20th Century British Globes
Brass
20th Century Globes
Brass
Mid-20th Century French Provincial Globes
Fiberglass, Oak
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Globes
Steel, Iron
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Early 20th Century French Neoclassical Globes
Brass, Steel
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Globes
Wood, Paper
1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Brass
Early 1900s French Antique Globes
Crystal, Bronze
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Brass
Early 1900s Italian Antique Globes
Crystal, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Balinese Globes
Sandstone
21st Century and Contemporary Balinese Globes
Quartz
21st Century and Contemporary Balinese Globes
Sandstone
Late 20th Century Modern Globes
Iron
Late 19th Century Austrian Belle Époque Antique Globes
Wood, Paper
Early 20th Century German Aesthetic Movement Globes
Paper
Late 20th Century German Hollywood Regency Globes
Brass
1940s American Vintage Globes
Metal
1950s Belgian Modern Vintage Globes
Metal
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Globes
Paper
Early 20th Century Art Deco Globes
Metal
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Metal
1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Metal
Early 20th Century German Renaissance Globes
Wrought Iron
Early 1900s Art Nouveau Antique Globes
Metal
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Globes
Wood
1930s German Vintage Globes
Marble, Brass
20th Century Globes
Crystal, Brass
1950s Belgian Modern Vintage Globes
Metal
19th Century English Victorian Antique Globes
Brass
20th Century English Globes
Bakelite
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Metal, Brass
1930s Arts and Crafts Vintage Globes
Beech
1920s Vintage Globes
Paper
1960s American Vintage Globes
Wood
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.