Globes
1840s English Antique Globes
Brass
1950s Italian Vintage Globes
Brass
Late 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Globes
Plastic, Paper
Because of heliocentric system theorized by Copernicus, it was possible to create mechanical antique orreries...
1860s Czech Antique Globes
Iron
Late 19th Century American Antique Globes
Brass
1970s Italian Vintage Globes
Chrome
Late 20th Century Globes
Brass
1940s Vintage Globes
Paper
Early 19th Century English Antique Globes
Metal, Brass
Early 20th Century German Globes
Copper
Early 20th Century Hungarian Globes
Metal
Early 20th Century German Globes
Paste, Wood, Paper
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Globes
Wood
Late 20th Century American Modern Globes
Metal
Early 20th Century Swedish Art Nouveau Globes
Metal
Early 19th Century German Antique Globes
Brass
Early 1900s Antique Globes
Paper
Late 19th Century Antique Globes
Paper
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Globes
Fiberglass
1950s Rococo Revival Vintage Globes
Glass
1980s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Teak
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes
Brass, Bronze
Late 20th Century French Classical Greek Globes
Plastic
Early 19th Century George III Antique Globes
Mahogany
20th Century Spanish Globes
Brass, Steel
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Brass, Metal
19th Century Italian Antique Globes
Brass
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Metal
1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Metal
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Globes
Wood
1980s Vintage Globes
Other
Early 20th Century Industrial Globes
Metal
1930s Vintage Globes
Wood, Paper
Early 20th Century French Globes
Brass, Iron
Mid-20th Century Italian British Colonial Globes
Brass
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Globes
Metal, Brass
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Globes
Metal, Brass
Early 20th Century French Napoleon III Globes
Paper
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Steel
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Wood
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Globes
Paper
Mid-18th Century British Dutch Colonial Antique Globes
Other
1840s German Dutch Colonial Antique Globes
Wood, Paper
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Brass
Late 19th Century Antique Globes
Paper
1950s Vintage Globes
Paper
Early 20th Century Belgian Globes
Iron
1940s Vintage Globes
Paper
1950s Vintage Globes
Paper
1980s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Plastic
1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Bakelite, Walnut
Late 20th Century Afghan Post-Modern Globes
Lapis Lazuli, Multi-gemstone
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Wood
Early 19th Century English Antique Globes
Mahogany
Early 18th Century Dutch Dutch Colonial Antique Globes
Other
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Globes
Paper
Early 18th Century German Baroque Antique Globes
Other
1850s British Victorian 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.