Here at Bellerby and Co we make some pretty amazing fifty-inch globes. But we aren’t the only ones who like things big. Here are our favourite big balls around the world.
1. Eartha :: the world’s largest rotating and revolving globe, is located within the headquarters of the DeLorme mapping corporation in Maine. The globe weighs approximately 5,600 pounds (2,500 kg), and has a diameter of over 41 feet (12.5 m).
See Eartha, World’s Largest Globe (41.1 ft in diameter), at DeLorme Headquarters Map Store, in Yarmouth, Maine, USA. DeLorme makes my favorite state atlases. Take Interstate 295 Exit 17 (10 min north of Portland). The panorama was stitched from 2 overlapping photos.
2. The Babson World Globe :: At 25 tons and 28 feet wide this was the world’s largest rotating earth-ball when it was built in 1955. It was covered with porcelain-baked steel tiles that recreated the continents and oceans. They fell off in 1984 and for the next nine years the World looked like a big, rusted ball. But in 1993 it was restored, and has remained in global standard shape ever since, although its rotating motor was shut down, apparently for good, in the late 1990s. Pre and post restoration below, we prefer the old one!
3. The Unisphere :: When it comes to non-rotating globes this is still the World’s Largest World, designed as the centrepiece for the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair. Its diameter of 120 feet far exceeds that of its nearest rival, the 72-foot Daily Planet in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is twelve stories tall, weighs 700,000 pounds, and is made of stainless steel so it will never rust.
4. The Globe Trailer :: Some 45 kilometres south of Abu Dhabi city you will find around 200 cars belonging to HH Sheikh Hamad Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan. Included is this huge random Globe Trailer… seemingly without much purpose?
5. Monumento al Divino Salvador del Mundo :: Located on Plaza El Salvador del Mundo (The Savior of the World Plaza) in El Salvador. It consists of a statue of Jesus Christ standing on a global sphere of planet earth, placed on top of the tall four-sided concrete base pedestal. It is a symbol that identifies and represents both El Salvador and Salvadorans throughout the world.
6. Peace Monument :: In the Helmand Province (Afghanistan) in the centre of a roundabout you find a monument to peace – a globe held aloft by the wings of three white doves.
7. President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill :: Both with their fifty-inch, 750-pound globes which were Christmas presents. During the war it was especially useful to both and others for gauging relative distances over water, a crucial factor in allocating scarce shipping resources while planning grand strategy.
8. Bellerby and Co Churchill Globe :: Wait wait back to us. The list would not be complete without one of our fifty-inch globes of course. The best part… the base is fitted with revolutionary roller bearings, allowing a fluid, 360 degree rotating motion. Finished with immaculate attention to detail, the globe is hand painted with many layers of pigment, and strong varnish providing a deep colour and luxurious enduring finish.
These impressive globe stand over 1.5m high, and is a will add grandeur to any large home or business. As with all Bellerby globes, each one is painted by hand in our London studio – so can be individually tailored to suit clients taste and requirements.
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Bellerby & Co Globemakers, London
Modern and traditional bespoke globes, handcrafted and hand painted bespoke to order.
We ship worldwide from our London studio.
Each globe is one of a kind and can be personalised. We will work with you to finalise your choice of colouring, base style, base material and finish, and through the many options of customisation and personalisation.
Sizing from 12cm to 127cm diameter, desktop / tabletop and floor standing globes. Terrestrial and celestial.
