Description
Both globes are undated. The celestial globe, named “Smith’s Celestial Globe” was likely first issued in the late 19th or early 20th century by Philip. The terrestrial globe shows Russian Empire rather than the U.S.S.R.; Chinese Empire rather than Chinese Republic; Zanzibar rather than British East Africa, and Cape Colony (c. 1910) rather than South Africa — all indicating that it was made slightly before about 1910. Thus, the pair of globes on columns likely dates to this date as well, the terrestrial being issued with the preexisting version of the celestial globe which had remained unchanged. Note that it is typical for pairs of British and American issued terrestrial and celestial globes to have different dates.
A pair of globes atop columns are a central part of the iconography of the Masons and were used to decorate their lodges. The columns hearken back to the twin columns which are said to have been placed at the entrance of King Solomon’s temple, symbolically linking the Masonic Temple with Solomon’s. Generally speaking, the celestial globe is symbolic of the spiritual part of human nature, and the terrestrial globe symbolic of the material side.
A lodge frequently would have a full sized pair on 6-foot columns, with 9- or 12-inch diameter globes. It is common for one of the columns to have a simple Ionic or Doric capital and the other to the pair to have a developed Corinthian capital. Such globes, either in the miniature size or the full size, were sometimes simply painted just showing continents on the world globe and the star motif on the celestial globe. In other examples, such as these, printed globe gores were used. For the miniature, generally one finds globes by George Philip and successor to C. Smith and Sons. For large versions, often a W. & A.K. Johnston pair of terrestrial and celestial were mounted on the large columns.
The Smith family of London globe makers, founded in 1799, produced a variety of floor and table models of globes throughout the 19th century. Charles Smith was joined in business by his son in 1845. According to the cartouche of extant Smith globes, they were made by J. Smith, and sold by C. Smith, 172 Strand, where they were in operation from 1827 to 1852. The firm later located at 63 Charing Cross, then known as C. Smith & Son. They were succeeded in the late 19th century by George Philip & Son, a prominent and prolific London globe maker that continued in business during the 20th century.
George Philip & Son was founded in 1834 in Liverpool by George Philip (1800-1882) primarily as a publisher of maps and atlases and celebrated its 150th anniversary in 1984. Its production of globes in the 19th century was mainly limited to associations with other British globe makers, including C. Smith & Sons, London. In 1902, Philip ventured into globe manufacture, facilitated by the firm’s establishment of the London Geographical Institute, a large factory for map, atlas, and globe production. Over the years, Philip has acquired the production lines of other British globe makers including Malby, Betts, C. Smith & Sons, and W. &. K. Johnston.
Terrestrial Cartouche: “TERRESTRIAL GLOBE/ C. SMITH & SON/ 63 CHARING CROSS.”
Celestial Cartouche: “SMITH’S/ CELESTIAL GLOBE/ GEORGE PHILIP & SON Ltd./ 32 Fleet Street. E.C.”
Reference:
Sinatra, Michael P. “Two Great Columns.” Scottish Rite Journal. June 2001. http://www.srmason-sj.org/council/journal/jun01/sinatra.html (17 October 2002)
