An intriguing monogram appears within the cartouche surrounding Floriano’s portrait, possibly attributed to the printmaker Paolo Cimerlino.

There is some debate on the exact date of the map. It is known that Floriano was granted a privilege by the Venetian state to prepare and publish a world map in January 1555, with the present map published in the same year. However, as Floriano was incredibly faithful in copying 

's 1538 cordiform map, it is possible that it was published earlier between 1545–1550.

Floriano’s double-hemisphere map of the world is a unique presentation of the world with each hemisphere divided into thirty-six segments of ten degrees of longitude. It is constructed on a polar projection, with each hemisphere cut into thirty-six gores, in the manner of printed globes, with North and South America named ‘America’ and shown as one continent, separated from Asia; large areas of land and ice cover each pole.

The border contains six fine strap-work cartouches, all but two are left mysteriously blank, presumably awaiting the details and portraits of an illustrious dedicatee, or two; the others contain portraits of Claudius Ptolemy and Floriano.

The Sunderland Collection

This striking double-hemisphere map is affectionately known as the ‘Bicycle Spoke’ world map. It was designed by Antonio Floriano, a painter from Udine, and published in Venice with privileges granted from the Senate. Floriano writes that he created the map to enable viewers to ‘easily study and learn cosmography and see the entire picture of the world, since it can be reduced to spheric form’.

The design of the map is mysterious. Based on a polar projection, each hemisphere is divided into thirty-six gores of ten degrees longitude each, as if it was intended to be mounted to a globe. However, elaborate strapwork boarders and portraits of Floriano and Claudius Ptolemy in the upper corners make it unlikely that it was intended to be cut apart. Cartographically, Floriano's map is based on Gerard Mercator's double-cordiform map of 1538, with geography and place names exactly replicated.

The production of Floriano's map raises some very intriguing questions. First, with its lack of either a title or imprint, one would assume that it was a proof copy; however, all other known examples are similar. Second, Floriano's decision to divide the two hemispheres into thirty-six gores would lead one to conclude that the map was intended to be dissected and mounted as a globe. However, with portraits of both Floriano and Claudius Ptolemy together with the elaborate strapwork to the borders, it is unlikely that this was Floriano's intention.

A superb example of the so-called 'bicycle spoke' map, with enormous visual impact. Thought by some to be in a 'proof' state, as the cartouches lay empty, awaiting a patron.

Floriano's 'Bicycle Spoke' World Map