Date:  May 2, 2013  |   Story: Tiffany Burgess  |   Styling: Mandy Keener  |  

Treasured collections often start as the result of travels or a particular fondness for vintage or antique pieces; for Jeff Perciful it was a combination of both. “I’ve always had a passion for travel and for antiques,” says the Little Rock native, who has traveled extensively in both Europe and the United States. “Globes seemed like a natural fit for me to collect because I love the diversity they show, and my interest in antiques led me to seek out vintage versions.”

Perciful also notes the color and vitality globes can add to a space. “I’ve always wanted to have a room that was related to travel—filled with globes, maps and pictures from my journeys,” he says. Aside from the obvious appeal of the bright colors and composition, Perciful notes vintage globes are particularly fascinating because they show how the political geography of the world has changed over the course of the past 100 years. “You can usually date a globe to a five year period just by looking at the countries and territories represented,” he says. “For example, you can tell a 1980s version by looking to see if Germany is united or divided, and globes made prior to 1935 will show Persia rather than Iran, and so on. There are numerous examples.”

Globes that illustrate ocean currents, show elevations of regions or mountain chains, as well as those that feature unique designs or bases are among Perciful’s favorites. “I love the visual appeal they have,” he adds. As for our state’s presence on the globe, he says you can tell when you find one formerly used in a classroom. “Arkansas is clearly marked with holes from push pins,” he laughs.