Globes
1960s Art Deco Vintage Globes
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Globes
Stainless Steel
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes
Composition, Aluminum
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Metal
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Aluminum
Early 20th Century German Aesthetic Movement Globes
Paper
1890s Belle Époque Antique Globes
Glass, Paper
Mid-20th Century French Globes
Wood, Paper
1860s English Antique Globes
Walnut
Early 20th Century German Globes
Paste, Wood, Paper
Early 19th Century German Antique Globes
Brass
20th Century French Globes
Metal
Early 20th Century British Victorian Globes
Linen, Paper
1980s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Plastic
1970s American Vintage Globes
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Steel
Early 20th Century Globes
Cast Stone
1930s American Neoclassical Revival Vintage Globes
Bronze
1980s American American Craftsman Vintage Globes
Walnut
Mid-19th Century French Antique Globes
Glass, Wood, Paper
Late 19th Century French Antique Globes
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Globes
Iron
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Paper
1950s Rococo Revival Vintage Globes
Glass
1920s American Industrial Vintage Globes
Iron
1820s English Regency Antique Globes
Wood
20th Century American Globes
Pine
20th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Globes
Paint
1950s Belgian Modern Vintage Globes
Metal
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Globes
Bentwood
Mid-20th Century Globes
Metal
19th Century American Antique Globes
Iron
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes
Metal
Early 19th Century German International Style Antique Globes
Hardwood, Paper
Early 1900s German Art Nouveau Antique Globes
Brass
20th Century Globes
Brass
1950s Belgian Modern Vintage Globes
Metal
1810s British Antique Globes
Oak
19th Century English Antique Globes
Mahogany, Paper
Late 19th Century German Antique Globes
Ebony
Early 19th Century George III Antique Globes
Mahogany
1950s English Vintage Globes
Oak
Early 19th Century English Antique Globes
Mahogany
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes
Wood
1730s French Antique Globes
Beech
1830s Antique Globes
Wood
Early 1800s English Antique Globes
Ebony
Late 19th Century American Antique Globes
Brass
1860s French Antique Globes
1950s Italian Vintage Globes
Brass
Early 19th Century Antique Globes
Other
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.