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Globe

Figure 10 Terrestrial Globe (Globe terrestre), about 1728;
designer and assembler: Jean-Antoine Nollet (French physicist and globe designer, 1700-1770);
engraver: Louis Borde (French cartographer and engraver, active 1730-1740);
lacquer decorator: Guillaume Martin (French japanner, died 1749) and Etienne-Simon Martin (French japanner, died 1770);
Printed paper, papier-mâché, poplar, spruce, alder painted with vernis Martin, and bronze, 109.2 × 44.5 × 31.8 cm (43 × 17 1/2 × 12 1/2 in.);
J. Paul Getty Museum (Los Angeles, California), 86.DH.705.1 © The J. Paul Getty Trust. All Rights Reserved.

Object/Work🔺

  • Catalog Level:🔺 item (value type: controlled list)
  • Type:🔺 globe (value type: authority)

Classification🔺

  • Terms:🔺
    decorative arts
    furniture
    scientific instruments
    European Art (value type: controlled list)

Titles or Names🔺

  • Text:🔺 Terrestrial Globe (value type: free text)
    Preference: preferred (value type: controlled list)
    Type: repository

  • Text:🔺 Pair of Globes
    Preference: alternate

  • Text:🔺 Globe terrestre
    Preference: alternate
    Language: French

Creation🔺

  • Creator Description:🔺 globe designed and assembled by Jean-Antoine Nollet (French physicist and globe designer, 1700-1770); map engraved by Louis Borde (French cartographer and engraver, active 1730-1740); lacquer decoration attributed to the workshop of Guillaume Martin (French japanner, died 1749) and Étienne-Simon Martin (French japanner, died 1770) (value type: free text)

  • Extent: globe (value type: controlled list)
    Identity:🔺 Nollet, Jean-Antoine (_value type: authority)
    Role:🔺 creator

  • Extent: Map
    Identity:🔺 Borde, Louis
    Role:🔺 engraver

  • Extent: stand
    Identity:🔺 Martin, Guillaume
    Role:🔺 painter

  • Extent: stand
    Identity:🔺 Martin, Étienne-Simon
    Role:🔺 painter

  • Creation Date:🔺 about 1728 (value type: free text)
    Earliest:🔺 1723 Latest:🔺 1733 (value type: controlled format)

  • Creation Place/Original Location: Paris (France) (value type: free text and/or controlled format)

Measurements🔺

  • Dimensions Description:🔺 109.2 x 44.5 x 31.8 cm (43 x 17 1/2 x 12 1/2 in.) (value type: free text)

  • Value: 109.2 Unit: cm Type: height
    Value: 44.5 Unit: cm Type: diameter
    Value: 31.8 Unit: cm Type: depth (value type: controlled format and controlled lists)

Materials and Techniques🔺

  • Description:🔺 Printed paper, papier mâché, and gilt bronze on a wooden (spruce, poplar, and alder) stand painted with vernis Martin (value type: free text)

  • Material Names:
    paper
    papier mâché
    bronze
    poplar
    spruce
    alder
    lacquer
    Technique Name: vernis Martin (value type: authority)

Inscriptions/Marks

  • Transcription or Description: Dedication to duchesse du Maine, wife of Louis XIV’s first illegitimate child; Secondary Inscription: Inscribed “Dedie et presenté a S.A.S. MADAME LA DUCHESSE DU MAINE par [son] tres humble et trés obéissant [serviteur] Nollet.Lic. en Theologie. [1728], Borde exc.” and “GLOBE TERRESTRE DRESSÉ sur les observations les plus nouvelles et le plus exactes approuvées par Mrs. de l’Academie Roïale des sciences [AP]aris avec privilege du Roi. 1728 Monté par l’auteur”. Stand painted underneath in yellow “N. 32” and in blue, perhaps stenciled, (?) “3323”. (value type: free text)

Subject Matter🔺

  • Indexing Terms:🔺
    object (utilitarian)
    Earth
    geography
    cartography (value type: authority)

Descriptive Note

  • Text: Jean-François Nollet, a noted scientist who taught physics to the French royal children, designed and assembled this globe, which shows a map of the earth’s surface. In 1728 he dedicated it to the duchesse du Maine, the wife of Louis XIV’s eldest illegitimate child. The duchesse was Nollet’s most important patron and aunt to the comte de Clermont, to whom the celestial globe is dedicated. Louis Borde, the engraver of the map, also sponsored the costly printing process. He was the publisher who provided the money needed for the engraving of the copper plate, supervised the different stages of printing and the distribution of the prints, and remained in principle the owner of the plate. (value type: free text)

  • Citation: J. Paul Getty Museum online (value type: authority)
    Page: accessed 16 July 2024 (value type: free text)

Related Work

  • Relationship Type: pendant of (value type: controlled list)
    Related Object/Work Label/Identification: Celestial Globe (Globe céleste), Nicolas Bailleul (French engraver, active 18th century), 1730; J. Paul Getty Museum (Los Angeles, California, USA); 86.DH.705.1. (value type: systems generated)

Current Location🔺

  • Repository Name/Geographic Location:🔺 Paul Getty Museum (Los Angeles, California, United States) (value type: authority)
    Repository Numbers:🔺 86.DH.705.1 (value type: free text)

NOTE: 🔺 indicates a core CDWA category.

Revised 24 July 2024
by Emily Benoff

Figure 10 Terrestrial Globe (Globe terrestre), about 1728;
designer and assembler: Jean-Antoine Nollet (French physicist and globe designer, 1700-1770);
engraver: Louis Borde (French cartographer and engraver, active 1730-1740);
lacquer decorator: Guillaume Martin (French japanner, died 1749) and Etienne-Simon Martin (French japanner, died 1770);
Printed paper, papier-mâché, poplar, spruce, alder painted with vernis Martin, and bronze, 109.2 × 44.5 × 31.8 cm (43 × 17 1/2 × 12 1/2 in.);
J. Paul Getty Museum (Los Angeles, California), 86.DH.705.1 © The J. Paul Getty Trust. All Rights Reserved.