This elegant imperial model documents the prosperity of Empires by identifying their conquered colonies. Metropolitan centers of that era, such as Vienna in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Constantinople of the Ottoman Empire and St Petersburg in Russia are represented. Furthermore the Union of Sweden and Norway is displayed and Indian Territory in Oklahoma, USA. Even though the Polar Regions are still unexplored, advancement of the Industrial Age is evident: cable lines between continents are visible as well as the trans-continental US railway and the newly opened Suez Canal. Most certainly an interesting globe one can study for hours. The globe does not offer a cartouche identifying the manufacture, however, the ever so delicately engraved map and coloring of the sphere lets us to believe this is a Felkl model. Felkl founded a "geographic lithographic institute" in Prague to produce globe gores and maps. Best known author of the German Felkl globes was the Leipzig cartographer Otto Delitsch, who developed the idea of brown color tone graduation of height of mountain ranges, which is well documented on this artifact. In 1855, the globe maker Felkl offered an illustrated prospectus for globes in six various sizes. Within the next 20 years, Jan Felkl rose to be the largest globe manufacturer within the Austro-Hungarian market, producing terrestrial and celestial globes in 17 languages, as well as lunar globes, planetaria and telluria. Felkl's early globes were produced by engraving and hand coloring the gores. Increase in production was made possible with the development of lithography around 1873. Eventually Felkl produced an astounding amount of 15,000 Globes a year and published them in up to 10 languages. The artifact we are offering is a Swedish translated model. Globes for the foreign market identified the translator on the cartouche in addition to the typical information. Most of the globes were purchased by schools. One would think if Felkl produced such a high quantity of models, many should be available today. Not so. Because the school globes were made as economical as possible, very few have survived….including this fine masterpiece. The 9.5 inch diameter sphere is covered with 12 individual, hand mounted paper gores and 2 polar calottes. Mounted into a stamped brass half meridian, the globe is attached to an elegant baluster turned and ebonized fruitwood base. Total height of this master piece is about 16 inches. There is wear in form of wrinkles, rubbing and spotting. It appears there has been professional repair done many years ago (see photos). The sophisticated base offers appropriate wear . The sophisticated artifact has aged to perfection, considering it bear history of 120 years ago. $685 - Item #: 9FELK90 - SOLD