French 11-inch Copernican Armillary Sphere

Description:

French 11-inch Copernican Armillary Sphere, unsigned, but probably Maison Delamarche, of engraved paper-covered pasteboard edged in red, on turned ebonized fruitwood stand, ht. 18 in., (some old worm holes in base, two splits to meridian ring).

The 1-inch diameter terrestrial globe, made up of twelve engraved gores, with meridian ring and moon disc suspended on a wire, revolves on its axis via a pulley around central 1 1/2-inch diameter gilt plaster sunball within six concentric circles representing Mercure, Venus, la Terre, Mars, Jupiter and Saturne, their diameter relative to Earth, and the angle and length in years, days, hours and minutes of their revolution around the Sun. The two intersecting rings are labeled with the Poles, solstices and equinoxes. The horizon band is labeled with calendar months houses of the Zodiac, their names and symbols.
Estimate $3,000-4,000

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