I’ve seen globes used in decorating for several years now. Maps and globes seem to appear and disappear as a decorating trend.
As with most collections, there are different reasons for collecting globes.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links to Amazon and/or Etsy, which means that I may earn a small commission from some of the links in this post. Please see our Disclosure Page for more information.
What attracts me to globes is really the color. They bring in a nice pop of color! Especially the vintage ones. I love the blues and reds!
The great thing about globes is that they come in not only different colors, but also different sizes. So you could collect the little ones if you didn’t have a lot of space.
This little one was a Christmas gift from my Daughter (from Etsy). It’s a vintage tin globe bank by Ohio Art Co. made in the 1940’s. It says “As You Save – So You Prosper” on the bottom. That’s so true!
There’s a whole new trend with altering globes by painting designs on them, painting them with chalkboard paint, or decoupaging them. The globe to the left is an new version of that trend (a Christmas gift from my Husband from TJX).
I’ve found it very difficult to find vintage globes at the thrift store that are reasonably priced. I found that big world globe after passing up a few that I thought were a crazy price. I guess Goodwill knows they are collectible!
Here are a some other resources about decorating with globes, if you’re interested:
Art On Globes by ImagineNations
Apartment Therapy – Decorate Like a Globe Trotter
Decorating with Vintage Globes – Huffington Post
Vee says
I’ve always wanted a globe. Just one, though your collection looks wonderful.
Glenda says
Enjoyed seeing your collection. I saw one years ago I really wanted, but at the time the price seemed high, so passed it up.
Debby Messner says
I was at an antique mall a couple years ago and an older coupe had a huge cart just full of globes. I think they bought every one they could find. Not quite fair in my opinion. Elisabeth from Creative Breathing just posted a really cute idea she did with a globe just yesterday.
Manuela says
I’ll have to go see what she did! I’m not familiar with her blog – but then I don’t get around as much as I used to 🙂
Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says
You’ve got quite a collection, Manuela! I wish I had the globe from when I was a kid. It was actually a beige globe. I’ve got one with an Old World look to it that I found at Goodwill last year. It’s got some green in it and is small enough for me to use in my husband’s home office on a shelf. I felt like it filled a spot good and was a masculine accessory that he would enjoy {read: not complain about as being girly!}.
Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces says
I love finding globes…such a great retro look about them! Yours look wonderful!
Kathleen Grace says
I love globes and maps. My youngest daughter has loved them since she was little too. She used tohave maps just plastered everywhere on her walls:>) I love the colors and there is just something so intersting about each one. Different names for countries as the years pass and different color combos mean there is always another special one to find!
Pamela Gordon says
I love your collection of globes Manuela. I remember we had a large globe and a tiny one about 2 inches high that was a pencil sharpener. In our big kitchen one wall behind the dining table had a world map and a map of Canada on it as we did out homework at that table.
Pamela Gordon says
I love your collection of globes Manuela. I remember we had a large globe and a tiny one about 2 inches high that was a pencil sharpener. In our big kitchen one wall behind the dining table had a world map and a map of Canada on it as we did out homework at that table.
Tracey says
“As you save…so shall you prosper.” I Love it and you are so right Manuela…true words…and such a cute bank. I remember in the early nineties when all the globes from schools were filling dumpsters as they were considered to be obsolete! (After the fall of the USSR.). I remember wanting to dumpster dive for them but had no room to keep them! Perhaps that’s why they’re so collectible now!
Love,
Tracey xox
Theresa H. Roach says
Beautiful, colorful AND helpful in learning about the World:) Have a blessed week dear friend, HUGS!
Deanna says
We have a nice globe that we don’t use regularly for school, and I was just thinking of doing some maps in my son’s bedroom. The globe would work in there too!
Thanks for the inspiration!
Jacki says
(I feel silly putting my website because I never post.) Today my husband, who is the maintenance man at a private school, brought home a large globe on a tall stand (because Australia has a dent in it so the teacher didn’t want it). He knows how I love globes. My Yorkie growled and barked at it because he didn’t know what it was! Anyway, this was timely because of your post. I put it on a garden seat and it stands stately right beside my desk.
Manuela says
Hi Jacki, you don’t have to fill in the website address. You can leave it blank. It just helps if someone wants to go to your site – all they have to do click on your link. But it’s not necessary.
Lucky you! I’ve seen photos of those kinds of globes.
Pat says
I have one globe my mother bought for me right after I began home schooling my children. She is gone now…but I still have the globe and it reminds me of her.
I’ve passed up some many times at the thrift and at bargainland… I don’t really gravitate to them. But then I see some pretty decorated shelves…such as yours and think “why not?” …and so I look for them next time I’m out. Nothing.
It comes and goes. 🙂 Pat
Manuela says
Pat, check the prices on Etsy for globes. You’ll never pass one up again. You could easily re-sell them!
Pat says
oH! geesh!!!!
I just did. You’re right. I won’t pass them up again. One off the top of my head, was the bank, I could have had it for a song. So there, now, I might be able to decorate a mantel shelf or something and then sell them when I’m tired of that!
thanks! Pat
cindy says
I have two globes and I love seeing them sitting on my dresser in the living room. Yours are gorgeous, I’m not too sure about altered ones, I would only do that if the globe was already messed up somehow, probably.
Have a great day.
Cindy
Laura says
I love globes! I have a few but I need to find old dick and jane books for the look I’m going for . I also love the globes just the way they are .
Vanessa says
Hi, Manuela
I love all your globes. I have a hard time finding vintage ones around town, but I do love how they look and more then ever I am going to find me a few to add to my office. Thanks for sharing and have a great week.
Hugs,
Vanessa
Andie says
What a fun, fun, fun collection!
It put a smile on my face!
xo
Andie
Sue says
You have way more than I do, Manuela! You’re right about pricing- most thrifts put high prices on them. I always look at estate sales, where they are more reasonable. My next project for one is to make a pendant light out of half of a globe. I can’t wait for the weather to warm up and the yard sales start up so I can find some more. 🙂
Ashley says
Ooh, I LOVE the globe bank. May have to make myself a sign with that saying to remind us to stay on track with our monies!