Impressive Pair Of Antique Monumental Pharmacy Show Globes -33½"

This monumental pair of French pharmacy show globes dates to the early 20th century. Each features a hand-blown clear glass sphere of exceptional size, finely engraved with radiating starbursts, and set on a round, tiered ebonized wood pedestal with ring moldings and applied roundel rosettes. Their scale is striking, transforming what were once functional trade emblems into sculptural forms of great decorative presence. One base lacks a rosette, and both pedestals show scattered scuffs and light rubbing, while the glass presents minor scratches and the expected bubbles from the blowing.

Known in France as "boules de pharmacie", such globes were displayed in chemists’ windows and traditionally filled with vividly colored liquids to advertise the apothecary’s trade and craft. The practice originated in the 18th century and flourished into the Belle Époque, when larger and more elaborate examples became fashionable. The engraved glass and bold pedestals of this pair reflect both artisanal savoir-faire and the theatrical display culture of the early 20th century.

With their impressive height and presence, these globes transcend their original purpose to serve as architectural accents of real impact. They can flank an entry console, anchor a library table, or lend sculptural gravitas to a bar or kitchen island. Their clear spheres catch and refract light beautifully, whether shown empty for a clean, graphic statement or filled with softly tinted water in homage to their historic use. In contemporary interiors, they bring a refined curiosity-cabinet spirit, balancing the solidity of their pedestals with the luminous delicacy of glass.