51. Celestial globe. Willem Janszoon Blaeu. 1603.

Willem Janzoon Blaeu was one of the most famous producers of maps from the Dutch map industry's prime during the first half of the 1600s. Together with his son Johan Blaeu he established the famous Blaeu Institute in Amsterdam, Officina Blaviana which after his death was continued by his heirs. They produced hundreds of maps charting countries from all over the world, both atlas and single prints, as well as many large impressive celestial and terrestrial globes.

Blaueu's small celestial globe has strong relations to Denmark. In the Latin text on the globe, W.J. Blaeu refers to his mentor in astronomy, the Dane Tycho Brahe. Blaeu was staying on the island of Ven around 1595 and participated in Tycho Brahe's research. Tycho Brahe's portrait is printed on the globe with the inscription: Tycho Brahe, the foremost/most excellent astronomer. We must assume that this globe, made two years after Tycho Brahe's death, has belonged to the Danish king.

The ball is made of papier mâché, plaster and chalk, while the frame is made of wood. On the ball itself are pasted 12 pointed oval pieces of paper/segments as well as two round segments which indicate north and south pole respectively. The constellations and the Latin text are first engraved in copper, then printed on paper and decorated by hand and subsequently glued onto the ball itself.