Ptolemaic Armillary Sphere
Delamarche, 19th Century

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Delamarche Ptolemaic
Delamarche et Cie (attributed to)
Ptolemaic Armillary Sphere
Paris: Mid 19th Century
Pasteboard, applied engraved paper
25 inches high
Sold, please inquire as to the availability of similar items.

The central terrestrial globe surrounded by turning sun and moon paper discs; within Arctic and Antarctic circles, Cancer and Capricorn tropical circles, and Equatorials circle -- all inside zodiac band; set within a meridian and a horizon band with engraved paper calendar and zodiac; on pasteboard supports calibrated with latitude and longitude set in a turned ebonized stand with central turned standard, and dish base.

Ptolemy (2nd Century A.D), an Alexandrian astronomer believed that the earth was at the center of the universe. In the Renaissance, the Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543), published his important treatise in which he proposed the revolutionary theory that the sun was the center of the universe. This challenged the geocentrism of Ptolemy, and was particularly controversial in the Catholic Church because of its conflict with basic Christian teachings at that time.

In France in the 19th century armillary spheres were made to demonstrate various theories of astronomy. An armillary sphere with the earth at the center is known as Ptolemaic, while an armillary sphere with the sun at the center is known as Copernican.

This Ptolemaic armillary sphere is characteristic of those produced by Delamarche family of cartographers, the most renowned and prolific producers of globes and armillary spheres in France in the 19th century. For more information see our Guide to Globe Makers.