It's an old orb, the earth - 4.6 billion years, give or take a million or two. It's a long way around it, too - the equatorial circumference is just under 25,000 miles. The Old-World designs and map styles of antique globes pay tribute to the visual splendor of early globes, capturing the excitement and mystery of mankind's fledgling discoveries of the earth's great age and size. The antique globe selection at WorldGlobes.com offers a special glimpse into those seafaring centuries, with beautiful antique floor globes and desk globes that palpably evoke the Age of Exploration (minus the scurvy and seasickness, of course).
In eras past, terrestrial globes were prized as elite instruments of scientific inquiry and decorative objects of artistic power and painstaking craftsmanship. GPS may have dimmed the romance of exploring the unknown, but it will never diminish the aesthetic charm of an antique world globe. The decorative, antique-style globes at WorldGlobes.com enhance this visual richness in a myriad of ways, from gemstone surface materials to soft illumination and classic raised relief. Don't worry, educators: an antique style needn't mean antiquated information. Our selection includes traditional and educational globes with antique style and up-to-the-minute accuracy, including current political borders.
Earth may have settled on a single form, but the antique globes that represent it can be found in a great variety of historical styles. Most antique-style globe designs feature antiqued details for decorative interest while providing current geographical and topographical information. Other antique globe styles, however, not only replicate the unique methods of specific mapmakers or cartographers, but also retain period-specific boundaries, names, and details.
Antique-style globes with authentic historical detail are inspiring accents for home libraries, living rooms, and more. Here are some of the historical styles you'll find at WorldGlobes.com:
