Globe Map
Simply put, a globe map is a round model of the earth that illustrates certain world features. But globes are much more than a model! As a treasured learning tool in a classroom, an office reference, or a decorative piece in the home, they are a classic fixture of intelligence and style.
The Science of Map Drawing
Literally the scientists of map drawing, cartographers are the artists behind the beautifully exact designs you see on any globe map. Two of the most well-known types are the political map—showing the boundaries of countries, states and so forth—and the topographical map. This type of map uses differentiation of color, and often raised and indented relief, to show elevation in relation to sea level, and can help determine any location’s climate.
Tan or Blue?
When used as a decorative piece, tan colored globes are usually preferred over “blue water” models. This is simply because the antique appearance of a tan background is more neutral and blends well with most office or home décor. The political map is the most familiar type of blue globe and generally consists of political entities in contrasting colors.
Desktop or Floor Models
They come in a range of sizes, some small and suited for placing atop a desk, others impressively complementing floor spaces. Usually without exception, globes are displayed on a base, many as beautiful as the globe itself. The desktop model might rest on a pedestal base, tilted to match the earth’s actual tilt. Tripod bases are among the many types of floor model bases.
Meridians and Time Dials
Many globes have a numbered metal ring, called a meridian, in a full circle around the sphere. Before the map included latitude and longitude lines, meridians were used to locate positions on the map. Now the meridian serves as an aesthetically pleasing way to stabilize the globe. Time dials are a typical feature, they serve to compare time zones around the world.
Globe maps enrich nearly any space—as a learning tool and as a unique work of art.
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