Here's an example with Feodor the 3rd of Russia.
Are these just symbols or did these have any practical use? How did they come to be, and when/why did they go out of style? Thank you for your input.
It's called the Globus Cruciger and is common starting much earlier than the 17th c. There is some more information here. Here's a portrait of Queen Elizabeth the first with one and an 8th century coin depicting Constantine VI and Irene holding Globus Crucigers.
