9-Inch Ptolemaic Armillary Sphere
Italian: c. 1900
Painted metal sphere, printed paper, wooden base, metal compass
12.75 inches high
4.75 inches diameter, base
$7,500
9-Inch Ptolemaic Armillary Sphere
Italian, c. 1900
Italian, c. 1900
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A metal Ptolemaic armillary sphere, painted red, and with applied paper labels and central 1.75 inch terrestrial globe, on a turned wooden stand with faux rosewood finish, the central turned standard on a dish base with attached raised metal compass. The central globe is surrounded by sun and moon paper discs turning 360 degrees at the end of flat bands within equatorial, Arctic, Antarctic, Cancer and Capricorn circles, all bound by solstitial and equinoctial circles, as well as a flat outer zodiac band with hand-colored labels in yellow, green and pink, set to show the apparent path of the sun.
The inner side of zodiac band has an applied paper label “Dono Semigratuito del Secolo,” loosely translated meaning “gift at the turn of the century.” This possibly indicates that this sphere was a promotional or commemorative item for the turn of the century in 1900. Its style and materials of manufacture suggest that period as well.
In the 19th century, armillary spheres were popular astronomical demonstration devices, though the Copernican theory, in which the planets were understood to rotate around the sun, had by then replaced the Ptolemaic idea that the earth was the center of the universe. For more general information about armillaries see our Globe Glossary.
Condition: Generally very good with the usual overall light toning, and wear. Some chipping and minor losses to paper labels, restored. Sun and moon faces disks replaced in facsimile. Red paint on metal flaking or chipped in some areas, and metal with scattered oxidation, not obtrusive.