Location: Room V – Library

This globe is made of papier-mâché covered in plaster and engraved copper. The meridian ring is made of brass, while the horizon ring is in wood, detailed with degrees, signs of the zodiac, names of the months and cardinal directions. The surface of the globe even includes the year which explorers first arrived at certain locations, along with the name of the explorer.

The globe’s creator, Joseph Jüttner, was one of the greatest Austrian producers of scientific instruments, terrestrial and celestial globes, and armillary spheres. Jüttner was active from the 1820s to the 1840s, and similar examples of his globes can be found in Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

This globe was probably originally part of the decoration of Maximilian’s study on the frigate SMS Novara. What is certain, however, is that it was once located in the library of Villa Lazarovich, Maximilian’s first residence in Trieste, then moved to the library of Miramare, as documented by various paintings and photographs.