People have always been curious about the world around them and the development of maps has echoed this historical fascination. Maps were once considered to be valuable objects and were treasured by their owners and regarded as works of art in their own right. These objects attracted the attention of artists as well as skilled draughtsmen and maps became quite ornate and decorative items, capturing the imagination of those who wondered what lay beyond the horizon.
Early maps tended to reflect what people knew or remembered and were largely topographical in nature. Often, these early pieces depicted myth and lore, combining to create “living maps” that were passed form generation to generation. Formalising the topography into early maps, knowledge became standardised and sowed the foundation of early cartography.
By the Middle Ages cartography had slowed in that accuracy became replaced by religious depiction through maps. Examples of strong belief can be seen in some maps where the Holy Land is shown to be at the centre of the earth. Another example is Europa Regina by Johannes Bucius which shows an early and elongated map, depicting Europe as the Queen of the World.
The Age of Seafaring during the 16th and 17th centuries saw new interest in map making, particularly the British and the Dutch taking to the seas and exploring new lands. At this time maps became increasingly artistic. An East Indies map in tropical colouring with pineapple trees and other exotic flora and fauna, designed to capture the imagination and evoke the scent of spice in the air is a typical example. As the demand for cartographers grew in the 17th century the artistic nature of maps from a purely functional item to a work of art began to evolve.
Maps were often decorated elaborately with sea creatures or mythical characters. Many of these very accomplished draughtsmen created quite unique works of art from map making. Maps designed by Petrus Plancius (1552-1622) or Abraham Ortelius (1528-1598) were frequently found embellished with intricate pictorial content. A successor to Abraham Ortelius was the Dutch cartographer Jan Baptist Vrients (1552-1612) who designed Obis Terrae Compendosia. The world is split into two hemispheres and surrounded by ornate and detailed pictorial decoration. The map brings a perception of how the world looks and a plethora of exotic creatures and landscapes from the far flung shores of the globe.
Another famous example is Nova Totius Terrarum, designed by Henricus Hondius (1597-1622), a Dutch Cartographer. This 17th century map is an ornate depiction of the world and is surrounded by detailed nautical scenes, perhaps reflecting the age and drama of exploration by sea as mythical creatures rise from the ocean and men are seen contemplating their journey.
Antique maps are increasingly popular in the modern home and make elaborate tapestries in home décor. There are a number of ways in which an antique map can add charm and elegance to the home, whether in poster, print or tapestry format and are much appreciated by connoisseurs of good taste.
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Angela Dawson-Field writes extensively on home decor and tapestry & textile art. She divides her time between family and The Tapestry House
Creating Style II: Fill Styles and Custom Map Symbols
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ZELANDICARUM 1598 ORTELIUS, A FASCINATING & ATTRACTIVE MAP, SPLENDID CARTOUCHE $1,750.00 |
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Saxonia Saxony Germany 1655 Ortelius engraved color map $94.50 |
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Old Antique Vintage Map Great Britain Ireland (1570) Ortelius Print Reproduction $39.00 |
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16th C Abraham Ortelius Daciarum Moesiarum Original Map $600.00 |
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Genuine Antique miniature map of Italy, Urbini region. Ortelius, 1609 $100.00 |
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TERRA SANCTA 1598 ORTELIUS, A FAMOUS & SPLENDID MAP OF THE HOLY LAND $1,750.00 |
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1570 Ortelius Antique Map Holland Netherlands Belgium Egg Map Germaniae Inferior $475.00 |
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1570 Ortelius Antique Map Holland Netherlands Belgium Egg Map Germaniae Inferior $475.00 |
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1588 Abraham Ortelius Antique World Map – Rare Edition only 14 Known Examples $17,500.00 |
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Old World Ortelius Map 1589 Maris Pacifici by Ortelius 13×19 $14.95 |
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1595 Ortelius Antique map of The French Region of Pictou – La Rochelle & Nantes $275.00 |
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1570 antique atlas ORTELIUS map THEATRUM ORBIS TERRARUM $6.50 |
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AFRICA EGYPT NILE ALEXANDRIA CAIRO SINAI ENGRAVING MAP ORTELIUS 1602 #A467S $85.00 |
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Ortelius Vintage Old Antique Colour Color Tuscany Italy Italia Reproduction Map $16.11 |
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Original Ortelius Map of Scotland 1579 $1,580.70 |
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Original Ortelius Map of South-East Asia 1584 $3,951.75 |
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Original Ortelius Map of China ca 1608 $4,663.07 |
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Original Ortelius Map of Africa 1581 $2,292.02 |
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ASIA TARTARY PERSIA INDIA CHINA JAPAN SIAM ENGRAVING MAP ORTELIUS 1570 #A690 $1,299.00 |
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Ortelius Islandia Iceland Reproduction Vintage Old Antique Colour Map Plan Print $16.11 |
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Genuine Antique miniature map of western France. Ortelius, 1609 $100.00 |
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Genuine Antique miniature map of southeastern Italy. Ortelius, 1609 $100.00 |
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Genuine Antique miniature map of coast of Yugoslavia. Morlacha. Ortelius, 1609 $100.00 |
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Genuine Antique miniature map of eastern Italy. Ferrara area. Ortelius, 1609 $100.00 |
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Genuine Antique miniature map southwestern Italy. Ischia Island. Ortelius, 1609 $100.00 |
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Genuine Antique miniature map of western Italy. Florence. Ortelius, 1609 $100.00 |
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Genuine Antique miniature map of Corfu Island, Greece. Ortelius, 1609 $100.00 |
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Genuine Antique miniature map of western Yugoslavia. Histria. Ortelius, 1609 $100.00 |
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Europe Map By Ortelius 1570 45″x35″Poster $26.98 |
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1570 antique atlas ORTELIUS map THEATRUM ORBIS TERRARUM $6.50 |
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Ortelius Russia Moscow Tartaria Repro Antique Map Print $16.11 |
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UKRAINE ANATOLIA PERSIA ARABIA WORLD MAP COL COPPER MAP ORTELIUS 1595 #D818S $599.90 |
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Abraham Ortelius – Map of England Scotland and Ireland – 1570 Large Canvas Print $23.69 |
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Abraham Ortelius – Map of France (Gallia)- 1570 Large Canvas Print $23.69 |
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Abraham Ortelius – Map of France -1570 Large Canvas Print $23.69 |
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Abraham Ortelius – Map of Frisia N Netherlands and Germany Large Canvas Print $23.69 |
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Abraham Ortelius – Map of Holland – 1570 Large Canvas Print $23.69 |
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Abraham Ortelius – Map of India – 1570Large Canvas Print $23.69 |
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Abraham Ortelius – Map of Italy – 1570 Large Canvas Print $23.69 |
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Large Ortelius Italy Italian Italiana Old Antique Map $26.86 |
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Map of Zeeland, c.1560 (hand coloured engraving) by Abraham Ortelius – Mug – Standard Size $14.50 This mug is created using the finest dye sublimation techniques and creates a stunning dishwasher safe finish. Great as a gift, or for promotional items. Each of our mugs come individually boxed for protection in transit…. |
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16th century map of the British Isles Photo Mugs Map of the British Isles, in the 1570 edition of Ortelius Atlas (Theatrum Orbis Terrarum). Abraham Ortelius (1527-1598) was a Flemish mapmaker who is considered to have produced the first true atlas (collection of uniform maps in one book). Ortelius worked in Antwerp, the Netherlands. This map is titled Angliae, Scotiae et Hiberniae (England, Scotland and Ireland). The text at upper right is in La… |
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Map of Europe by Ortelius, 16th century Photo Mugs From the Spanish edition of Orteliuss Theatro de la Tierra Universal, first published in 1588. Ships and mythical creatures depicted….. |
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Lextra Old World Map MouseRug, 10.25 x 7.125 Inches, Light Blue, Navy and Gold, One (MOW-1) $19.99 In a single stroke of genius, the classic beauty of traditional handmade rug and textile patterns was combined with high tech fiber coating technology to create the unique MouseRug mouse pad. Patented Lextra fiber coating provides more than 7 million points of contact, for extremely precise control with mechanical ball design or optical mice. Measures approximately 7-1/8 x 10-1/4 (including fringe… |
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Map of Poland and Eastern Europe by Abraham Ortelius 18×12 Museum Quality Framed Art Pictures… |
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Photo Jigsaw Puzzle of 16th century map of the British Isles from Science Photo Library $25.00 Photo Puzzle, 16th century map of the British Isles. Map of the British Isles, in the 1570 edition of Ortelius Atlas (Theatrum Orbis Terrarum). Abraham Ortelius (1527-1598) was a Flemish mapmaker who is considered to have produced the first true atlas (collection of uniform maps in one book). Ortelius worked in Antwerp, the Netherlands. This map is titled Angliae, Scotiae et Hiberniae (England, Sc… |
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Photo Jigsaw Puzzle of AFRICAN MAP, 1595. Map of the kingdom of the legendary Prester John from Granger Art on Demand $24.99 Photo Puzzle, AFRICAN MAP, 1595. Map of the kingdom of the legendary Prester John. AFRICAN MAP, 1595. Map of the kingdom of the legendary Prester John encompassing North East Africa, the Arabian peninsula and Persia from the 1595 edition of Abraham Ortelius atlas Theatrum Orbis Terrarum.. Chosen by Granger Art on Demand. 10×14 Photo Puzzle with 252 pieces. Packed in black cardboard box of dimensio… |
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Photo Jigsaw Puzzle of NEW WORLD MAP, 1570. A New Description of America, or the New World. from Granger Art on Demand $24.99 Photo Puzzle, NEW WORLD MAP, 1570. A New Description of America, or the New World.. NEW WORLD MAP, 1570. A New Description of America, or the New World. Map from Abraham Ortelius Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, 1570. Chosen by Granger Art on Demand. 10×14 Photo Puzzle with 252 pieces. Packed in black cardboard box of dimensions 5 5/8 x 7 5/8 x 1 1/5. Puzzle image 5×7 affixed to box top. Puzzle pieces pri… |
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Imagined Corners: Exploring the World’s First Atlas $35.97 Published in Antwerp in 1570, the Theatrum orbis terrarum did something no previous book had done?it presented the world in all its component parts, offering the chance to see our planet as a place of staggering variety and ultimate unity. It was the world?s first atlas. Brainchild of Abraham Ortelius, the Theatrum reflected the enormous vitality of the era, the prevailing zest for exploration and… |
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Ortelius Atlas Maps: An Illustrated Guide. $114.99 … |
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