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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

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