Book Review From Rick’s Library: The Globemakers

5 min read

Today when you look for points of destinations, or how far a place is, we quickly whip out our mobile phones and open up either Apple Maps or Google maps. Maps today for the most part are in digital format. Paper maps are so pas se. There was a time when a different method was used to find your way. That method is coming back, but more so for display only. The individuals who are using this method to find their way, happen to have the whole world in their hands…literally.

Welcome to That's Life, I Swear. This podcast is about life's happenings in this world. Happenings that conjure up such words as intriguing, frightening, life-changing, inspiring, and more. I'm Rick Barron, your host. 

1-Ok, let’s talk about the book
Peter Bellerby, the co-founder of Bellerby & Co., introduces a fascinating narrative about a neglected art form and its origins, that being the craftmanship of globe making. 

Ironically, what sparked Peter’s venture into globemaking stemmed from his search for his father's birthday.

In the quest for a unique globe for his father's 80th birthday celebration, Peter exhaustive search led him to embark on a personal journey, one he never saw coming. Faced with the inability to find the perfect gift for his dad, which was a globe, he took it upon himself to create one. This endeavor marked the inception of Bellerby & Co Globemakers, a distinguished entity as the sole creators of custom-made globes globally. Chronicling this captivating odyssey, "The Globemakers" delves into the historical and craftsmanship aspects of globes, initially referred to as ‘earth apples,' through a union of illustration, photography, and storytelling.

The book guides readers through the intricacies and obstacles encountered in the globe-making process, such as the challenge of maneuvering a replica of Winston Churchill’s 50-inch globe through a standard door. Providing a glimpse into Bellerby's London workshop, the narrative unfolds as engineers, cartographers, carpenters, and painters collaborate in handcrafting terrestrial, celestial, and planetary globes for discerning customers. The team's Instagram account, showcasing behind-the-scenes glimpses with craft insights, has garnered over 151,000 followers, captivating both visually and informatively.

Bellerby emphasizes the careful handcrafting that’s involved in every stage, asserting, ‘We do everything from inception to watercolor finish by hand.’ The palpable passion for the craft shines through, with Bellerby stating, ‘Google Maps might inform, but a globe inspires.’

Crafting a flawless sphere, a task no less challenging than Leonardo da Vinci's endeavors, marks just the beginning for a globemaker. The intricate process continues as the artisan carefully covers the sphere with gores—sections resembling surfboards. These map sections, when printed and laid flat, are precisely affixed to the sphere. 

The pointed tips find their place at the north and south poles, while the widest portions gracefully envelop the equator. The essence of the globemaker's art lies in the painstaking activities that follow: cutting the gores with precision using a scalpel, stretching them, applying glue, and placing them with great accuracy.

Painting gores in the workshop. Courtesy of: Globemakers

Mr. Bellerby explains that mastering the art of cutting gores demands a staggering 50,000 practice attempts…seriously. Once these sections find their place, the globe undergoes the intricate process of hand-painting and drying before being elegantly mounted onto a tailor-made base. The final result is a Bellerby globe boasting a lustrous brilliance akin to that of hard candy, a testament to the artisan's dedication to perfection.

Globemaking emerges as a forgotten art form, seamlessly blending art and science, engineering and geography, astronomy and myth, with a generous infusion of imagination. The book skillfully interweaves these overarching themes into the rich tapestry of the globemaking narrative. While the craft may have faded into obscurity, Bellerby's personal odyssey has launched it back into the limelight. Guess you can say, and pardon the pun, he’s put globe making back on the map.

2-So, let’s talk about the author 

After a successful career in television, Peter Bellerby was running a music venue-bowling alley in London. Peter Bellerby, as a visionary artisan stands at the forefront of a renaissance in the world of globemaking. His remarkable journey, captured in the pages of this book, unfolds a narrative that transcends the mere craft of creating globes to become a testament to passion, innovation, and a rekindled appreciation for a forgotten art form.

Author, Peter Bellerby. Courtesy of: Afar Magazine

Born with an innate curiosity and a passion for craftsmanship, Bellerby's commitment to authenticity and keen craftsmanship is very noticeable throughout his work. 'The Globemakers' not only serves as a chronicle of his personal odyssey but also as a window into the intricate world of globemaking. The book seamlessly weaves together historical nuances, artistic endeavors, and the fusion of science and imagination that defines this unique craft.

In his London workshop, Bellerby orchestrates a team of skilled professionals—engineers, cartographers, carpenters, and painters—each contributing their expertise to create terrestrial, celestial, and planetary globes. The extreme attention to detail, coupled with a dedication to handcrafting every aspect, sets Bellerby & Co apart as the world's sole creators of crafting globes.

A fervent believer in the enduring allure of globes, Bellerby sees his role not just as a craftsman but as a custodian of a tradition that seamlessly fuses art and science. Peter’s book serves not only as a celebration of the craft but also as a call to recognize the profound impact that globes have in inspiring curiosity and understanding about our planet.

In an era marked by technological advancements and virtual maps, Bellerby's commitment to handcrafted globes stands as a testament to the enduring power of tangible, artistic representations of our world. 'The job of a globemaker is never complete,' he observes, highlighting the dynamic nature of our world and the continuous evolution that defines both the geopolitical landscape and the art of globemaking.

3-What drew my interest in reading this book? 

I first learned about Peter Bellerby by watching a news program on tv. Watching how Peter and his team crafted a globe from start to finish was not only educational but intriguing. His crew telegraphed a demeanor of patience and the utmost attention to detail. It wasn’t a job for them but a deep passion of love. 

As a little boy I lived for the weekends when my parents would take me to the library. With my official library card in hand, I felt a sense of power that I could check out any book I wanted. Ok, sounds silly, but for me it was so cool.

Finishing up a globe. Courtesy of: National Geographic

One day while going down the various library rows, my eye caught a large sphere. Walking closer I saw it was the map of the world. I was in awe. 

As I rotated the giant sphere, I took time to look at the various countries and where I lived. Observing the various colors of countries, the color of the oceans, the font size of letters calling out the names of the various cities and countries, the fine horizontal and vertical lines calling out Latitude & Longitude, the fine painting of transparency to effectively indicate global boundaries. Seeing all this, the big question tossing around in my head was, how were these giant globes created? Peter’s book provided me the answers.

4-What can we learn from this story? What's the take away?

The Globemakers brings us inside Bellerby’s gorgeous studio to learn how he and his team of cartographers and artists bring these stunning celestial, terrestrial, and planetary objects to life. Along the way he tells stories of his adventure and the luck along the way that shaped the company.

Peter’s beautiful book is a tribute to the techniques of globemakers. He has truly mastered these little-known processes, and written about them with comparable skill.

Well, there you go my friends. That’s life, I swear.

For further information regarding the material covered in this episode, I invite you to visit my website which you can find on Apple Podcasts/iTunes, for show notes calling out key pieces of content mentioned and the episode transcript.

As always, I thank you for listening and your interest.

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