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Greaves & Thomas, fine Globemakers,
a potted history.
Award winning Globemakers Greaves
& Thomas are a small company based in the United Kingdom,
today they make Historical Globes, Celestial Globes, Lunar Globes,
Planetary Globes, Facsimile Globes, Replica Globes, Themed Globes,
Paper Folding Globes, and Modern Day Globes. Arts Corespondent
Jemmy Button looks into their history.
In 1991 James Bissell-Thomas after
several years of research, published his first globe (Merzbach
& Falk's 1881 globe). The globe was well
received, especially because of the ageing techniques developed
to lend the globes a patina producing a convincing replica. James
Bissell-Thomas believes that this was achieved because of his
Art School background, his printing knowledge gained running his
own publishing house in the 1980's (Long Tail Prints) combined
with his knowledge as an antiques dealer. In 1991 the first globe
joined an already existing eclectic range of furnishing ideas
which included Giant Tennis Rackets, Rivercraft furniture, Hat
Boxes etc. (most are still being made: www.gtstore.co.uk)
. It was because of
James Bissell-Thomas' interest in globes, that the decision was
then made to form a collection of globes, spanning cartographic
history from 1492 to the present day.
At the time James' knowledge in globes
was poor, however a good friend at the Royal Geographical Society
pointed out that the following year (1992) would be not only be
the 500 year anniversary of the European discovery of the New
World, but it would also be the anniversary of the earliest surviving
terrestrial globe ~ Martin Behaim's 'Erdapfel'. This globe today
resides in the Germanishes Museum in Germany, rightly described
by Bissell-Thomas as the 'Holy Grail' of all globes, not just
because of its age, but also because of the profusion of data
inscribed on the globe, the globe is best described as a medieval
geographical census describing the world beyond Europe, listing
the origin of spices, metals, traditions, peoples, animals, islands
and religions etc. not only this but the globe covered in beautiful
illustrations by Glockendon.
Despite the globe being on an elaborate
stand, with extremely detailed artwork, Greaves & Thomas still
decided it would be wise to republish this fine relic. Appointments
were then made with the Germanisches Museum and flights were booked.
On arrival at the museum in September 1991, it transpired that
the Germanisch Museum had its own globe publishing interest and
was not interested in helping G&T achieve their goal. Consequently,
they were given a very limited time to study the original globe
and reference images they also commissioned from the Museum were
later blocked and never arrived. While many would have given up,
Greaves & Thomas decided that it would persevere, knowing
that what ever they produced would ultimately be compared to a
rival globe that would have the Museum's seal of approval. All
possible data concerning the globe was sourced and the finished
result once again was well received, and is today is considered
one of the most important globes in their collection.
In August 1992 when the Martin
Behaim Globe was completed, Bissell-Thomas proudly
informed the Germanish Museum that despite their reluctance to
help, he had succeeded in making their facsimile. Soon after this
3 overseas business men arranged to come and see their Behaim
Globe, at the time Greaves & Thomas was trading from 2 small
garages in a small muddy yard, then even the two garages were
not room enough, and a small 12' white square marquee had been
hurriedly erected in the yard as a temporary measure. When the
visitors arrived, they spent considerable time inspecting the
globe, and then had an impromptu board meeting by themselves in
the rain in the muddy yard, they re-entered, and announced that
2 of them were presidents of two globe companies, Rath Globes
from Germany and Cram Globes from the USA. They informed Greaves
& Thomas that they had been working with the Gemanishes Museum
to produce their facsimile version, however upon inspection of
the globe, they stated that they were keen to cease production
of their own efforts and to market the G &T globe. This they
did, with considerable success including selling one example to
the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. Not only this, but
the Gemanishes Museum also ordered a globe for themselves.
Greaves & Thomas have, on more
than one occasion, offered to make the Germanische Museum's version,
which would be one step closer to the original, but to date they
have declined. The Greaves & Thomas version can now be found
in numerous museums around the world.
From this point onwards, Greaves and
Thomas would only concentrate on globes, initially historical
globes but soon branching into themed globes: Holbein's
Terrestrial Globe; Shakespeare's
Globe; Alice's
Celestial Globe and lastly the ludicrous Elvis
Presley Mars Globe is another example of the
diversity that can be achieved in globemaking, if one cares to
explore the possibility of producing something other than the
norm.
Today alongside their Themed Globes,
Historical Replica Globes and their Modern Day Globes, Greaves
& Thomas have also added the spectacular 'Hermetic
Globe'
to their Collection and this will soon be followed by a production
version of their amazing Invisible
Globe.
Greaves & Thomas now also have
now formed an interesting collection of globes made in the last
300 years by other globemakers, this 500 strong collection will
soon be prominently displayed in the Museum that they are presently
preparing on the Isle of Wight. This should be a Mecca for designers
as it will show numerous different versions of the same object.
Not only this, but they will be using the Sistine Chapel's ceiling
as inspiration to make a stunning celestial ceiling, and at the
same time show one of the finest optical illusions in the world.
A surprising aspect of Greaves &
Thomas is that they produce all their Globes in the UK. While
numerous companies in the UK now relocate their production to
the far east, in order to survive in today's cut throat market,
G&T continue to produce a quality product which is well received.
Their workforce never more than 5 craftpersons, and the globes
they offer are limited by craft instead of number, this is verified
in the small numbers of certain globes produced each year ( for
example 2-6 Coronelli Globes per year and 5-12 Behaim Iron Stand
Versions per year) , consequently there is always a waiting list
for the larger more intricate globes that Greaves & Thomas
produce. The globes are made using recycled papers and the wooden
components for the elaborate stands are also made using reclaimed
/ recycled timber. Consequently Greaves & Thomas globes will
never cost the Earth.
Jemmy Button, Arts Corespondent
TO
VIEW THE G&T GLOBE COLLECTION CLICK HERE!