Globes
1930s American Neoclassical Revival Vintage Globes
Bronze
Early 1900s French Antique Globes
Crystal, Bronze
Early 1900s Italian Antique Globes
Crystal, Bronze
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Marble
1990s Art Deco Globes
Lacquer
20th Century Modern Globes
Rock Crystal
Early 1900s Italian Art Nouveau Antique Globes
Metal
Mid-20th Century Hollywood Regency Globes
Metal
1960s Vintage Globes
Metal
1990s Italian Post-Modern Globes
Marble
Early 1900s Art Deco Antique Globes
Canvas
1990s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Globes
Metal
20th Century Unknown Art Deco Globes
Wood, Paper
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Globes
Bronze
1810s French Neoclassical Antique Globes
Bronze
1980s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Globes
Crystal, Bronze
1980s American Vintage Globes
Gold Leaf
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Globes
Metal, Bronze
1980s British Vintage Globes
Bronze
Early 20th Century English Globes
Bronze
Mid-20th Century Neoclassical Globes
Metal, Bronze
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.