The making of acelestial globe
The sky as it was once drawn
A celestial globe is a map of the heavens. Across its surface, the 88 constellations are drawn amongst the stars, bringing together astronomy and the mythological figures that have given the night sky its stories for centuries.
Unlike a terrestrial globe, which maps the Earth beneath us, the celestial globe turns our gaze outward — towards the heavens surrounding it.
Earth and heavens
For centuries, terrestrial and celestial globes were created as companions: one representing the known world, the other the sky above it. Great globe makers such as Vincenzo Coronelli produced them in pairs for libraries, collections and places of learning. My celestial globes continue this tradition, preserving the globe as both an object of knowledge and a work of art.
Drawn, etched and gilded by hand
Each celestial globe begins with drawing. The constellation figures develop from pencil sketches before being transferred onto etched copper plates and printed by hand. The printed sections are individually laid onto the sphere before the stars are marked and gilded one by one with gold leaf.
Celestial globes are created individually in 35 cm and 60 cm diameters. The 108 cm scale belongs to the Monumental Globes collection. At present, new celestial globes are reserved for existing collectors.
