Terrestrial table globe

Terrestrial table globe. It forms a pair with the celestial globe, Osterschaden GLB0120. Geographical details on the sphere include kingdoms indicated by little crowns. The world is divided into two parts. There are three labels in North America and two in South America. In Africa there is a figure labelled 'Papa loannes', symbolised by headgear, which might represent a papal tiara. In Asia there is a portrait with a label, and Japan is labelled 'Zipangri'. The Indonesian archipelago is labelled and accompanied by a note with the date 1520. There is a label in the southern continent and a note with the date 1499. There are decorations including ships and sea monsters in the oceans, and an elephant in Africa. A total of six oceans are named.

In the later edition of the Oterschaden gores, reissued by Paulus Furst in Nuremberg, the note 'Terra nondum plene cognita Inuenta A° 1499' is absent. For full details about the cartography and construction of this globe please refer to the related publication.

Object Details

ID: GLB0119
Collection: Astronomical and navigational instruments; Charts and maps
Type: Table globe
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Oterschaden, Joannes
Date made: circa 1600
People: Urban de Gelais, Urban de
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Caird Collection
Measurements: Overall: 298 x 230 mm; Diameter of sphere: 165 mm; Diameter of Meridian Ring: 193 cm