GLOBES RESTORATION

The digitalisation of globes aims, among others, at making the globes massively and easily accessible to the broad public, and at providing for their long-term protection. Old globes are usually damaged and soiled and therefore they need to be restored first to become legible. In 2013, the Map Collection of the Faculty of Science of Charles University ordered, at its own expense, the restoration of selected globes.

They comprised the following two precious globes - Blaeu G. J.: Globus terrestris (1602) and Seutter M.: Globus coelestis (1710), which were extensively damaged. The surface of the globes was covered with a thick layer of dirt that clung to it, and the varnish coating was disrupted. Both globes showed a number of cracks, as a result of mechanical attack, reaching down to the underlying plaster layer. The paper coating on the edges of these cracks was separated from the layer underneath, posing a danger of further losses.

Restoration works have been successfully completed by RNDr. Miroslav Široký, CSc. The globes have been cleaned, cracks secured, losses in the paper coating made up for and the surface treated with a new varnish.

The restorer’s work produced mended, cleaned and completed historical exhibits that could be easily subjected to the process of digitalisation.
The restorer’s report is available here - only in czech (author © RNDr. Miroslav Široký, CSc).

For your illustration, a few photographs are shown to document the condition before and after the restoration works (author of photographs © RNDr. Miroslav Široký, CSc).

SEUTTER, Matthäus. Globus Cœlestis in quo omnes Asterismi delineati. August. : impensis Matthæi Seutteri, [1710]. 21 cm in diameter.

BLAEU, Willem Janszoon. NOBILISS.IS ILLUSTRISS.IS[QUE] D.D. Hollandiæ, Zelandiæ ac Westphrisiæ Ordinibus PP. P. Clementiss.is Hanc Terræ Marisq[ue] Sphæram, summâ diligentiâ accuratissime fabricatum, Debiti honoris gratiq[ue] animi testimonium L. M. D.D.D. [Amsterdam ] :  Guilielmus Janssonius Blaeu, 1602. 24 cm in diameter.