There is a particular kind of quiet that surrounds a well-made object. Not the silence of something empty, but the kind that comes from a great deal of attention, spent over a long time, on something small. Charlotte Bourrus makes paper globes. She has been doing so for years, by hand, in her studio in France — shaping, layering, and creating a scenography, each one with the kind of patience that no machine has ever been able to replicate. The result is an object that sits in a room and changes it. Not loudly. Just enough.
From the Studio: How a Charlotte Bourrus Globe is Made
Every globe begins with paper. Not the smooth, indifferent kind you find in a printer tray — but paper with texture, with memory, with a surface that responds to the hand. Charlotte works with traditional paper art techniques, building up each globe layer by layer until it holds its shape and its weight.
The cartographic detail comes next. Each globe is hand-crafted — continents, mountain ranges, ocean, cities — rendered with the kind of details that makes you want to look closely, and then look again. Cities appear in careful script. Coastlines are observed, not approximated. The tones are muted and warm: aged ivory, deep sea blue, soft terracotta for land masses.
No two globes are identical. The hand that made them saw to that.
The Objects themselves
Charlotte Bourrus produces globes in several sizes — from intimate miniature pieces to statement globes that anchor a room. Each one belongs to a numbered edition, which means each one will, eventually, be the last of its kind.
At Etcheaz, we carry her full collection, including two editions created in exclusive collaboration with us: the *Globe Zürich* and the *Globe Switzerland *. These pieces were designed specifically for the Swiss market and Swiss lovers — for homes here, for people who feel a connection to this country’s geography and want to hold a piece of it on a shelf.
The Globe Zürich features the city’s lake, its hills, its boroughs — rendered with the same unhurried hand that Charlotte applies to every surface she works on. The Globe Switzerland takes a wider view: the Alps in full, the valleys between them, the country as a landscape rather than a border.
Both are available exclusively at Etcheaz in Switzerland, priced in CHF, with the option of in-person pickup at our Küsnacht showroom on Seestrasse 155.
Why a Globe, Still?
It is a reasonable question. We have screens that show us any corner of the world in seconds. Satellites map every street. The globe, as an information tool, has been obsolete for a long time.
And yet.
There is something the screen cannot do. It cannot sit on a table and be turned slowly, and felt, and admired from a particular angle in a particular light. It cannot age gracefully on a shelf. It cannot be the thing a guest reaches for without thinking, turns in their hands, and puts back gently.
Charlotte Bourrus’s globes are not about information. They are about the pleasure of the world as an object — something finite, holdable, beautiful. In that sense, they are more relevant now than ever.
A Note on Collecting
Charlotte’s globes are produced in limited series. When an edition closes, it closes. There are no reprints, no reorders, no restocks.
This is not a marketing strategy. It is simply the natural consequence of making things by hand at a pace that cannot be hurried. If you are considering one of her globes, the honest advice is not to wait too long.
Where to Find Charlotte Bourrus Globes in Switzerland
Etcheaz is the sole authorised retailer of Charlotte Bourrus globes in Switzerland. Her collection is available on etcheaz.com, with shipping across Switzerland and the option of personal pickup at our showroom in Küsnacht, on Zurich’s Gold Coast.
We are one of the few places in Europe where her work can be seen in person before purchase — which, for an object this tactile, this present, we recommend.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What makes Charlotte Bourrus globes unique?
Each globe is hand-crafted using traditional papier-mâché techniques and painted by hand. No two pieces are identical. They are produced in numbered limited editions, making them genuinely collectible objects rather than decorative reproductions.
- Where can I buy Charlotte Bourrus globes in Switzerland?
Etcheaz is the only authorised retailer of Charlotte Bourrus globes in Switzerland. Her full collection is available at etcheaz.com, with pickup possible at our showroom at Seestrasse 155, Küsnacht (Zurich). Prices are in CHF.
- Are Charlotte Bourrus globes limited edition?
Yes. Each globe belongs to a numbered series. Once an edition is complete, it is not reprinted. This is a direct consequence of the hand-made production process — each globe takes significant time and skill to produce.
- What sizes are available?
Charlotte Bourrus produces globes in several sizes, from smaller desktop pieces to larger statement globes. Our current selection at Etcheaz includes both, as well as the two exclusive Etcheaz collaborations: the Globe Zürich and the Globe Switzerland XXL.
- Can I visit the showroom to see the globes in person?
Yes. Our Küsnacht showroom at Seestrasse 155 carries a selection of Charlotte Bourrus globes. We recommend contacting us before visiting to confirm current availability: info@etcheaz.com