Globe. Maison Delamarche. France, last quarter of the 19th century

Globe. MAISON DELAMARCHE. France, last quarter of the 19th century.
Printed and colored paper on a sphere, brass, and wood.
ÉMILE BERTAUX, publisher.
In good condition. Shows slight wear on the wood.
Measurements: 45 x 25.5 x 25.5 cm.

Provenance: Estate of Ramon Martí Alsina and Ricard Martí Aguiló.
Artistic and heritage collection originating in the legacy of Catalan painters Ramon Martí Alsina (1826–1894), a seminal figure of 19th-century Catalan Realism, and his son Ricard Martí Aguiló (1857–1935).

Passed down and enriched across successive generations, the collection brings together works from the original holdings of both artists alongside acquisitions made by their descendants. Dedicated to preserving and recovering the family legacy, the descendants actively reacquired works by the painters as they entered the market, progressively expanding the collection to encompass paintings, sculptures, archaeological artifacts, and other items of artistic and historical significance.
This globe belongs to the prestigious cartographic tradition of Maison Delamarche, one of France’s leading manufacturers of globes and geographical materials since the late 18th century. In 1875, Émile Bertaux, an astronomer and publisher specializing in cartography, began collaborating with the Parisian firm, overseeing the publication of maps and globes.

The sphere, covered with printed and colored cartographic bands, is mounted on a graduated brass meridian and an elegant turned base made of dark wood. Beyond their educational and scientific function, these globes were also status symbols intended for libraries and offices, combining cartographic precision with meticulous presentation. Examples from Maison Delamarche are preserved in institutions such as the Museo Galileo in Florence and the Museu Marítim in Barcelona.