Here Be Dragons: The Surprising History of Globes
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| Globe with Bakelite Base, Circa 1930, has now sold! |
Few objects in history embody humanity’s eternal quest to understand the world like the globe. Perfectly impractical for navigation, absurdly unstackable, and remarkably heavy for something made of paper mache, globes nevertheless became a symbol of our higher ambitions: mapping our world and showing it off to anyone willing to visit our library.
From their humble origins as curiosities to their modern status as collector’s items (and, in some cases, fancy liquor cabinets), globes have quietly endured through centuries of exploration, war, and questionable geographic assumptions. Let us take a journey through the history of the globe—an object so timeless it still gets invited to auctions alongside Picassos.
The First Globes: When Accuracy Was Optional
The oldest surviving terrestrial globe is the Erdapfel, or “Earth Apple,” made by Martin Behaim in 1492—just before the Spanish accidentally stumbled upon the Americas. To Behaim’s credit, his globe was groundbreaking for its time, even though it left out an entire hemisphere. But hey, it’s easy to criticize from the 21st century. Back then, globes were less about getting the geography right and more about looking intellectual while mispronouncing "Cathay."
Behaim’s globe was not alone. Ancient scholars like Crates of Mallus had been theorizing spherical models of the Earth as far back as 150 BCE. Crates’ version wasn’t a practical tool but more of a philosophical exercise—a kind of ancient TED Talk, except with fewer slides and more hand-drawn constellations.
Still, one has to admire the audacity of early globes. They weren’t afraid to guess. Don’t know what’s in that vast stretch of ocean? Stick a dragon on it. A bit unsure about Africa’s shape? Make it look like someone stepped on it. The important thing was the message: "The Earth is round. The map is wrong. And I have tenure."
Globes as Renaissance Bling
By the Renaissance, globes had transformed from scholarly oddities into status symbols. The courts of Europe loved globes, not because they helped anyone find Jakarta, but because they whispered, “I am very rich, and my wealth is global.” The Dutch cartographer Willem Blaeu took this to heart, producing celestial and terrestrial globes so detailed they made lesser cartographers weep into their sextants.
Owning a Blaeu globe in the 17th century was a bit like driving a Lamborghini today. You didn’t necessarily need one to get to work, but it definitely made you the envy of your peers. Blaeu’s globes didn’t just chart the Earth; they were also works of art, often featuring mythological figures and elaborate engravings. Forget GPS—this was geography with flair.
Even the Vatican got in on the action. One particularly stunning example is the Giovanni Antonio Vanosio’s 1567 celestial globe, housed in the Vatican Apostolic Library, which charts the heavens in such exquisite detail that it’s less an educational tool and more a passive-aggressive reminder that the Church knew exactly where heaven was located.
Collecting Globes: A Hobby That Costs the Earth
Collecting vintage globes has become a prestigious hobby, with certain pieces fetching impressive sums at auction. Notable sales include:
The Blaeu Globe Pair: In 2008, Christie's auctioned a pair of Willem Blaeu globes for €793,850. These 17th-century masterpieces are renowned for their intricate detail, reflecting the era's cartographic advancements.
Richard Cushee's 1731 Pocket Globe: In 2021, Bonhams sold one of these compact 18th-century globes for £9,560. Its small size belies the rich historical information it contains, making it a prized item among collectors.
Gerard and Leonard Valk's 18th-Century Table Globes: A rare pair of Dutch terrestrial and celestial globes from the mid 1700s sold for £62,500 at a Christie's auction in December 2019. Their exceptional craftsmanship and historical significance contributed to their high value.
These sales highlight the growing appreciation for antique globes, which serve as both historical artifacts and decorative pieces. Collectors are drawn to their unique blend of artistry and cartographic history, often investing significant sums to acquire them.
Famous Globes: Cultural Icons
Some globes have transcended their origins to become legends in their own right. Among them:
The Hunt-Lenox Globe: Housed in the New York Public Library, this globe is one of the earliest to depict the Americas (albeit poorly). Its most famous feature, the dragons, is proof that early cartographers were just as imaginative as fantasy novelists.
Newton’s Celestial Globe: Created in the 18th century, this globe mapped the heavens with stunning precision. It was a favorite among astronomers and anyone who needed a good icebreaker at 1700s dinner parties.
The Farnese Globe: An ancient Roman celestial globe carved from marble, this relic shows the constellations in glorious detail. It’s less of a globe and more of a “don’t touch the art” exhibit.
Globes Today: Spin Meets Style
In the digital age, globes are less about utility and more about aesthetics. Modern globes range from sleek minimalist designs to illuminated models with built-in augmented reality features. But perhaps the most delightful innovation is the bar globe—a hollow globe that doubles as a liquor cabinet. It’s proof that even in the 21st century, humanity can look at something educational and think, “What if this dispensed whiskey?”
Globes also maintain their cultural cachet in offices and libraries. A desktop globe adds gravitas to any space, even if it’s mostly used to procrastinate by spinning it wildly and declaring, “Wherever my finger lands, I’m going there!” (Spoiler: It’s always the middle of the Pacific.)
The Subtle Genius of the Globe
There’s something delightfully optimistic about the globe. It assumes we can reduce a chaotic, messy planet into a neat, rotating sphere. It celebrates our triumphs (mapping continents) while quietly ignoring our failures (colonizing them). And it reminds us that no matter how advanced technology gets, there’s still something magical about holding the world in your hands—dragons and all.
So next time you see a globe, give it a spin. And if you land on Antarctica, take a moment to appreciate the fact that early cartographers labeled it “Terra Incognita” (Unknown Land). Turns out, not much has changed.