JEWELLERY, DECORATIVE & FINE ARTS AUCTION Tuesday, 12 October 2021 - 10:00 AM start
A pair of 19thC Malby's table top globes
Lot Details
both 12 inch diameter, the terrestrial globe dated 1858 and the celestial globe dated 1860, both labeled and surmounted by brass polar hour circle, and within calibrated full brass meridian, the horizon band with engraved paper calendar and zodiac. Raised on turned mahogany tripod stands, slight variations, with reeded legs united by stretchers. Note: Malby & Son was one of the most prominent British globe makers of the mid 19th century. The cartography on the globes was based on the work of the map publisher ‘The Society of the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge’. The Malby firm is perhaps best known for producing in 1849 a 92cm (about 3 foot) diameter terrestrial globe for public exhibition. H.460mm. CONDITION REPORT: Terrestrial: The three legs are "turned and fluted" combined with "turned" stretchers but appear to be original to the manufacture. French polish has considerable oxidisation and chipping/rubbing to the surfaces. Appears to be walnut. The horizon band is made of two pieces with biscuit joint, the upper surface with applied paper calendar and zodiac. The paper of this band, and the paper of the globe is varnished and the varnish has considerably toned (browned), somewhat obscuring the text but imparting an ;antique' patina. Both the band and the globe have scattered knocks/dings and scratches that mar the surface, notably where some material has rubbed under the brass meridian as the globe has turned. Additionally there are scattered scratches and flaking to the varnish. There is an impact dent that has damaged the surface structure (area of Nigeria), a varnish chip nearby (area of Sierra Leone) shows the paper underneath, this paper in this area is lightly toned, in ohter area with more recent chips to the varnish the various original colour shows through. The manufacturer's cartouche has the agents name added to it 'Edward Stanfrord, Charing Cross', the date Jan.y 1858 is below the cartouche. The brass meridian is grooved to the opposite side of the scale and a fixing trunnion runs in hte groove to allow the globe to rotate on that meridian. The trunnion is meant to be secured to the centrepiece axis of the three stretchers of the base, the two small screws are missing ( an easy fix) Celestial: Very slightly lighter in weight, dimensions very similar, legs are turned rather than fluted, matching stretchers, (one stretcher is loos at the centre joint). Meridian is correctly screwed to base. Horizon ring has been damaged, split and reglued at some stage, the paper calendar/zodiac torn at that stage and repaired. There are a couple of small losses ot the paper. The varnish is comparatively lighter than the terrestrial, there are scratches to the paper gores varnish, sometimes affecting the paper surface as well. The manufacturer's cartouche is smaller than on the terrestrial, and has a couple of tables left and right of it. The date 1860 is in the text of the cartouche. Colours are terrestrial - a lightish burnt caramel, celestial - tan with yellow/green tones
