Globes
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
2010s Italian Globes
Iron
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Metal
1850s French Antique Globes
Paper
Late 20th Century Afghan Post-Modern Globes
Lapis Lazuli, Multi-gemstone
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Globes
Wood, Mahogany
Late 20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Globes
Metal
1930s Vintage Globes
Wood, Paper
1970s Vintage Globes
Fruitwood
20th Century British Globes
Chrome
1980s Vintage Globes
Other
Late 19th Century Antique Globes
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Metal, Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Brass
1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Metal
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Metal
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Globes
Stoneware
1960s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Brass
Late 20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Globes
Iron
1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Brass
19th Century French Victorian Antique Globes
Marble, Ormolu
Early 20th Century Industrial Globes
Metal
Late 20th Century Industrial Globes
Metal, Brass
1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Glass
1960s American Modern Vintage Globes
Metal
1940s German Art Deco Vintage Globes
Glass
19th Century Belgian Napoleon III Antique Globes
Paper
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Globes
Paper
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.