French globe 1930s.

J. Forest. German globe 1930s.

Forest and Girard, Barrère & Thomas
18th & 19th Century Paris

J. Forest made a large variety of globes in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, largely for school use, but also for home use. Their prolific output included table globes, some on ebonized turned stands; floor globes; and novelty globes, including terrestrial globes on geared turntable stands, and cigarette lighters incorporating globes. In the 20th century Forest produced light up globes, including modernist aluminum bases. Forest globes were mainly labeled in French, with some for export in English or Spanish.In the early 20th century, J. Forest was apparently succeeded by the geographical publishing firm Girard & Barrère, which continued to offer “Globes Forest” at the same Rue de Buci address in Paris that Forest used. During the early and mid 20th century the firm also produced globes and geographical publications as Girard, Barrère et Thomas. This may have been a merger or partnership with the 19th century Paris globemaker G. Thomas.

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36 cm height, 25 cm diameter, 17 cm foot diameter. In good conditions.
Sphere: Paper mache. Bright colors. It preserves the original patina of the balloon made of stucco and paper.
Metallic support
French balloon from Forest.
Scale 1: 50,000,000.