National Geographic

PETER BELLERBY WANTED TO MAKE A GLOBE for his father’s 80thbirthday. By the time he delivered the gift, two years later, Bel-lerby had sold his house and car to launch one of the world’s onlybespoke globemakers. In the 15th century, artisans etched theirmaps into brass printing plates in reverse. It’s still delicate workfor the London-based Bellerby & Co. team. Each surboard-shapedmap section is hand-painted and stretched—a process knownas goring—and many tools must be custom made. “There areno globemaker supply stores,” jokes Bellerby. —NINA STROCHLIC1. Spherical measureA tool for accuratelyplotting latitude lines.2-4. Watercolor suppliesSmall pots of hand-mixedwatercolors and a palettefor testing them.5. Desk globeA mini, nine-inch globe inmint green. The biggestare 50 inches in diameter.6. PaintbrushFor applying washes ofcolor on large globes.7. Engraving toolsSharp metal tools forengraving personalmessages on the base.8. Large compassUsed for drawing latitudelines on the big globes.9. Inner spindleAllows a globe to spin onan axis. The bottom holdsthe globe on the base.10. GoreA hand-cut strip ofthe map painted withthe first wash of color.11. CalipersFor measuring spherecircumference.12. Calligraphy penand paintbrushesThe pen is used to writepersonalized messageson the globes, thepaintbrushes to applywatercolors.13. Blotting paperOne drip could meanstarting over—so thepaper absorbs excesspaint from brushes.14. Wooden baseBall bearings on the woodbase allow the globe tospin 360 degrees.15. Head artist’s bookThe lead artist storescolor references from pastglobes in a notebook.16. Drop clothFabric branded withthe Bellerby logo.PHOTOGRAPH BY AARON TILLEY1011``````12 13``````14``````15``````16