“Tyrian Purple Series I” Plasma Globe

About Our “Tyrian Purple” Plasma Globe

In the ten years that we have been selling large professional globes, our “Tyrian Purple” Plasma Globe has been the first choice of many buyers, and for good reason. The color purple has a universal and timeless appeal to our senses. First used by the Phoenicians in 1500 BC, the purple dye was made from predatory sea snails. The dyed fabrics were expensive status symbols and laws were passed to restrict their use to the rich and powerful. Woven cloth dyed Tyrian Purple was valued above all others and used by the nobility in ancient Rome, Egypt, Byzantium and even Mexico in the new world.

Purple, unlike violet, is not one of the colors of the visible spectrum. It is not one of the colors of the rainbow or have its own wavelength of light. It is a combination of violet and red and these varying proportions are what create the extraordinary effects in our “Tyrian Purple” globes. We start with an 8" high hand-made hardwood base that is beautifully finished in a dark rosewood satin finish. The base houses the electronic circuitry and power control for the globe. The base’s circuitry in turn is powered by the included Switching Power Supply which converts regular household power to a safe 24 volts DC. Our 15" diameter globes are hand blown from incredibly hard borosilicate glass. Using specialized equipment the globes are filled with combinations of the noble gases in a vacuum to create various colors and effects. The glass globe is then mounted on the base creating an impressive plasma generating device 22" in overall height.

With the globe on its lowest power setting, several purplish-white tendrils form and slowly undulate. The tendrils start as small red pools of energy traveling the across center electrode surface. Leaving the pool, the tendrils go from a whitish purple to a darker purple before transitioning back to wispy red tips. Turning the power up causes the tendrils to multiply, lengthen and start probing at the globe inner wall. At medium power you can attract a tendril to your fingertip, and it will light up in an orange splash of energy. At full power the globe fills with purple tendrils, most of which move along the inner surface in a spidery walk. Touching the globe causes a vivid white streamer to reach out from the center electrode and connect with your hand. At the same time your hand is transformed into an additional electrode and several new tendrils radiate out from it along the glass surface. As energy is transferred to your fingers the rest of the tendrils in the globe start to collapse and your hand display becomes the focus of the globes effects.

Our “Tyrian Purple” Plasma Globe is one of our most popular effects, and is the perfect choice for first time globe buyers. Its beautiful colors and mesmerizing movement make this globe an art piece that you will want to show off!