Armillary sphere

The 65mm-diameter terrestrial globe composed of 12 hand-coloured engraved gores and mounted at the South pole, pasteboard discs representing the sun and the moon on pivoted metal arms around it to demonstrate eclipses, that bearing the moon articulated, enclosed by pasteboard rings with hand-coloured, engraved paper scales on both sides, the ‘colures des equinoxes’ and perpendicular ‘colure des solstices’ rings graduated in degrees, rings for polar circles, tropics and equator, the ecliptic marked with months and houses of the zodiac, the assemblage mounted on pins within a meridian ring marked with ‘Degrés d’elévation du pôle’ in one quadrant and graduated with ‘Climats’ (I-XXX) and ‘Heures’ 12-24 and 24-6, the hand-coloured, engraved horizon ring with months of the year (Latin and French), houses of the zodiac with engraved depictions of the houses (titled in Latin and French), and winds (titled in Italian and French), the horizon ring supported by four quadrants with hand-coloured, engraved paper panels on both sides bearing the names of European cities and their respective longitudes and latitudes, on an ebonised turned wooden stand, 550mm high overall. Some wear and restoration, most joints weak and separated, some splitting of rings.

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Although unsigned, this Ptolemaic armillary sphere is very typical of those produced in France in the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries by globe and instrument makers such as Louis Charles Desnos (1725-1805), Charles François Delamarche (1740-1817), and Jean Fortin (1750-1831; Stevenson illustrates a very similar Ptolemeic armillary sphere by Fortin as fig. 129). On the terrestrial globe the coastline of Australia appears to be complete, although it is inaccurate at points.