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A pair of George III celestial and terrestrial 21" library globes, W. & T.M. Bardin, ca 1790-1820

Both globes are of traditional form on turned mahogany stands with reeded legs joined by a compass stretcher.
Made between 1790-1820.


The terrestrial globe is inscribed "To the Honourable Sir Joseph Banks, Bar., KB., President of the Royal Society, This new British Terrestrial Globe, Containing all the latest discoveries and communications from the most correct and authentic observations and surveys, to the year 1799, by Capt. Cook and more recent navigators, engraved from an accurate drawing by Mr. Arrowsmith, Geographer, Additions to 1807, Respectfully Dedicated by his most obedient Hble Servants W. & T.M. Bardin".


The celestial globe is inscribed: "To the Rev. NEVIL MASKELYNE.D.D.F.R.S. Astronomer Royal This New British Celestial Globe Containing the Positions of nearly 6000 Stars, Clusters, Nebulae, Planetary Nebulae &c. Correctly computed & laid down for the year 1800, from the latest observations and discoveries by Dr. Maskelyne, Dr. Herschell, The Revd. Fr. Wollaston &c.&c. Is Respectfully Dedicated by his most obedient H.ble Servents W. & T.M. Bardin"


A second cartouche to both globes states "Manufactured & Sold Wholesale & Retail by W. & T.M. BARDIN, 16 Salisbury Square Fleet Street London".


William Bardin (1783-1798) began making globes around 1780, having previously been a freeman of the Leatherseller's Company and of the Girdler's Company. His first globes were of 9 and 12-inch diameter, published on 1 January 1782 in collaboration with Gabriel Wright (fl.1770-1804). Wright was a mathematical instrument-maker who had worked for eighteen years (according to an advertisement of his) for instrument-maker Benjamin Martin. Martin had the plates of Senex's celebrated globes acquired from James Ferguson and Wright was probably involved with the publication of Martin's versions of these globes. However, Wright may well have left Bardin before these globes actually appeared as a 1781 advertisement shows him resident at 36 Little Britain, whilst Bardin was based in Hind Court.

In 1790, William was joined by his son Thomas Marriott (1768-1819), apprenticed since 1783 and recently became a freeman. From now on the firm was known as W. & T.M. Bardin, and in 1794 moved to new premises in Salisbury Square, off Fleet Street. Following William's death, Thomas took sole control of the firm, which in turn was taken over by his daughter Elizabeth Marriott (1799-1851) in 1820, after he had died, and then by her husband, S.S. Edkins following their marriage in 1832, and a son of theirs was added to make S.S. Edkins & Son in 1848, until the father died in 1853 and the firm was closed shortly thereafter.


A similar pair of globes by W. & T.M. Bardin is in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O321994/pair-of-globes-bardin-globe-makers/


A similar pair of 18" globes was sold at Christie's:
https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5562299/
118 x 66 cm. (46.4 x 25.9 in.)

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