This item is beautiful!  It came double boxed with styrofoam inside the main box and then that box inside another box.  The colors are exquisite and when the sun hits this globe, it just glows!  Our house receives full sun all day, and we put this on a greenbelt area on the other side of the pool-you can see the reflection in the water.  GREAT find, would highly recommend!  It's also pretty solid as far as the weight of the ball goes--not too heavy, not too light, but overall very well balanced!