History of the Globes

This pair of William IV Cary’s 12-inch celestial and terrestrial globes, supplied by Edward Holmes Baldock, represents a remarkable example of early 19th-century craftsmanship. The terrestrial globe is inscribed, signed, and dated “Made by G. & J. Cary, 86 St. James’s Street, Jany 4/8,” while the celestial globe bears the inscription “Made & Sold by J. & W. Cary, Strand, London, Jan. 11, 1816.” Both globes rest on elegant giltwood stands and pedestals also supplied by Edward Holmes Baldock.

John Cary the elder (1755–1835) was a distinguished English cartographer, engraver, globe maker, and publisher. Alongside his brother William, the duo behind J. & W. Cary were among the most prominent figures in the thriving London map, globe, and instrument trade of their era. As the preeminent globe maker in Regency London, John Cary’s work was celebrated internationally for its quality and precision.

Despite their craftsmanship, the globes’ design and materials—plaster, papier-mâché, paper, and varnish—make them particularly fragile and susceptible to damage, underscoring the importance of careful preservation.

The Restoration Process

After discussions between the family, the collections team, and Yolaine, a restoration approach was agreed:

“The focus will be in reinforcing all the vulnerabilities of the pieces in order to allow their good conservation over time and to restore their readability and aesthetics. The goal is to be able to display and study them without damage, while giving them an appearance that is as close as possible to what they would have looked like if they had not suffered any major degradation.

To do so, the interventions carried out will meet the criteria applied to all artwork restorations: each product used will be neutral, stable over time, and reversible.”