Globes
19th Century English Antique Globes
Mahogany, Paper
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Globes
Mahogany
2010s Italian Globes
Iron
1970s Vintage Globes
Resin
19th Century English Victorian Antique Globes
Brass
1770s English George III Antique Globes
Wood
Mid-20th Century North American Industrial Globes
Steel
1960s American Arts and Crafts Vintage Globes
Brass
2010s Italian Globes
Iron
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes
Glass, Mahogany, Paper
20th Century Renaissance Globes
Wood
1850s American American Empire Antique Globes
Brass
Early 20th Century Swedish Globes
Metal
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Metal
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Globes
Metal
1890s French Antique Globes
Paper
Mid-20th Century Dutch Art Deco Globes
Brass, Iron
1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Glass, Wood, Paper
Early 1900s German Art Nouveau Antique Globes
Brass
1960s German Bauhaus Vintage Globes
Glass, Wood
1950s American Vintage Globes
Iron
Early 20th Century French Globes
Metal
19th Century German Neoclassical Antique Globes
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Globes
Stainless Steel
1950s German Bauhaus Vintage Globes
Brass
Mid-20th Century Spanish Other Globes
Wood
1950s German Vintage Globes
Glass, Wood
1950s English Vintage Globes
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Globes
Crystal
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes
Lucite
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes
Metal
1840s English Antique Globes
Mahogany
1820s English Regency Antique Globes
Wood
Early 19th Century English Antique Globes
Mahogany
1810s English Antique Globes
Brass
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Metal
1940s French Vintage Globes
Wood, Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Globes
Beech, Walnut
1850s French Antique Globes
Paper
Mid-18th Century American Antique Globes
Fruitwood
2010s British Globes
Brass, Stainless Steel
Early 19th Century Antique Globes
Wood
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Early 20th Century German Globes
Wood
2010s British Globes
Aluminum, Steel
2010s British Globes
Aluminum
Mid-19th Century French Antique Globes
Glass, Wood, Paper
Mid-20th Century American Industrial Globes
Metal, Steel
20th Century French Globes
Metal
1810s British Antique Globes
Oak
Late 18th Century English George III Antique Globes
Wood, Paper
1970s Vintage Globes
Chrome
2010s British Globes
Stainless Steel, Nickel
2010s British Globes
Brass
1920s British Vintage Globes
Paper
Mid-20th Century Globes
Crystal
2010s Italian Globes
Iron
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.