A Planetarium-Orrery [unsigned, late 18th century]. A metal and brass planetarium-orrery, base plate diameter 17½ inches (44cm), overall height 31½ inches (80cm). The horizontal plate painted blue, central axis with 1¾ inch diameter lacquered brass sunball, engraved with sun-face and sun spots, the sunball mounted with a geared mechanism and two inner planetary arms representing Mercury and Venus, later dials inserted around the axis lettered Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune with interplanetary measurements. Separate tellurium arrangement with moon, geared earthball and mantle, the wooden earhball mounted on the axis from a geared drive with zodiac calendar scale and moon phase ring, two separate supplementary dials for sideral time (later lettered insert) and the age of the moon with mean solar time. At the opposite side of the tellurium is a spirit lamp, with pierced chimney, inset lens and mirror, the horizontal plate enclosed by a raised silvered horizontal circle with zodiac and calendar scales, carried by 12 brass supports. The complex geared mechanism operated by an ivory-mounted winding handle with vertical sliding lock for the main gear drive, the mechanism enclosed within an ebonised oak and mahogany 12 sided cabinet, diameter 21 inches (55cm), the cabinet mounted on a 19th century table stand, central turned column with three downswept legs to padded feet (minor abrasions to horizontal plate). A rare and large orrery, related in structure to James Ferguson's famous 'Venus' orrery, so called because it attempted to explain Bianchini's Venus observations. cf Millburn pp 39-45. In this example the two inner planets are not given separate revolving positions but are placed on arms from the central axis. The additional spirit lamp would be used as a replacement for the sunball. The piece has been slightly altered in the late nineteenth century with the addition of extra discs and replacement lettering, and its form of mounting very Victorian, however it remains an important late 18th century instrument as a restatement of Ferguson's 'Venus' orrery of 1746.
A Planetarium-Orrery [unsigned, late 18th century]. A metal and brass planetarium-orrery, base plate diameter 17½ inches (44cm), overall height 31½ inches (80cm). The horizontal plate painted blue, central axis with 1¾ inch diameter lacquered brass sunball, engraved with sun-face and sun spots, the sunball mounted with a geared mechanism and two inner planetary arms representing Mercury and Venus, later dials inserted around the axis lettered Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune with interplanetary measurements. Separate tellurium arrangement with moon, geared earthball and mantle, the wooden earhball mounted on the axis from a geared drive with zodiac calendar scale and moon phase ring, two separate supplementary dials for sideral time (later lettered insert) and the age of the moon with mean solar time. At the opposite side of the tellurium is a spirit lamp, with pierced chimney, inset lens and mirror, the horizontal plate enclosed by a raised silvered horizontal circle with zodiac and calendar scales, carried by 12 brass supports. The complex geared mechanism operated by an ivory-mounted winding handle with vertical sliding lock for the main gear drive, the mechanism enclosed within an ebonised oak and mahogany 12 sided cabinet, diameter 21 inches (55cm), the cabinet mounted on a 19th century table stand, central turned column with three downswept legs to padded feet (minor abrasions to horizontal plate). A rare and large orrery, related in structure to James Ferguson's famous 'Venus' orrery, so called because it attempted to explain Bianchini's Venus observations. cf Millburn pp 39-45. In this example the two inner planets are not given separate revolving positions but are placed on arms from the central axis. The additional spirit lamp would be used as a replacement for the sunball. The piece has been slightly altered in the late nineteenth century with the addition of extra discs and replacement lettering, and its form of mounting very Victorian, however it remains an important late 18th century instrument as a restatement of Ferguson's 'Venus' orrery of 1746.
Try LotSearch and its premium features for 7 days - without any costs!
Be notified automatically about new items in upcoming auctions.
Create an alert
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
