This Workshop is Full of Modern Day Cartographers Hand-Crafting Made to Order Globes

by N/A, 10 years ago | 3 min read

With the prevalence of GPS devices - now on every smartphone - in our modern day, the olden ways of geographical navigation like maps and globes have been rendered all but dead.Â

But they hold a different place in society now, serving more as works of art than functional necessities. And for London-basedÂ Bellerby & Co.Â - one of two remaining handmade globe-makers in the world - they're not only works of art, they're masterpieces.

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"Our studio began in 2008 when Peter Bellerby struggled to find a quality globe for his fatherâ€™s 80th birthday present."

"Faced with a choice between cheaply made modern globes or fragile, expensive antique reproductions, Peter decided to try and make his own."

"The process turned out to be more complicated and costly then he imagined."

"After two years of trying to create the perfect globe, Peter turned this newfound passion into an artisan business."

Each section of map is called a "gore," and must be meticulously gridded, painted, glazed, and softened before being plastered.

After knowing what goes into each aspect of the process and the literal perfection required, it becomes clear why some take years to complete.

"We now have a small team of dedicated Globemakers constructing high-quality, handmade, terrestrial and celestial globes. "

"It takes each new team member at least 6 months of practicing and learning to make a globe," Bellerby states.

And it's the furthest thing from easy. In fact, the craft allows absolutely no margin for error. "One of the challenges in globe making is the fight with Pi â€“ if you donâ€™t constantly measure and re-measure, you will be unable to complete the process," says founder Bellerby.

"With bespoke cartography, each globe is made to order and essentially one-of-a-kind."

This is "The Churchill." At 127 cm in radius - or just over four feet wide - it's Bellerby & Co's largest globe, and naturally, their most prized and expensive. It takes a team of them roughly a year to complete.

"From the various bases, to the painting, to the mapmaking..."

"Each piece is expertly crafted in-house using both traditional and modern techniques."

"What does it take to be a globemaker? [An] incredible amount of patience and the ability to re-train your body."

It may be a dying craft, but Bellerby & Co. are proud to be some of the final few keeping it alive. And boy are they doing an incredible job.

To learn more about Bellerby & Co's story, as well as more of their amazing work, check outÂ their website.