William Harris & Co.
Brass Planetarium & Tellurium
Live auction begins on:
July 15, 06:00 PM GMT
Estimate
30,000 - 50,000 USD
Bid
22,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Brass Benjamin Martin-type Orrery, c.1818, signed “Harris & Co 50 Holborn London,” with tellurium and planetarium attachments, 20-inches tall, planetarium spans to approximately 29-inches, 9-inch diameter drum engraved with central 6-pointed foliated star, surrounded by zodiacal scale and calendar scale on outer circumference, housing a geared movement operated by brass crank with tapered ivory handle, seated on tapered column with folding cabriole leg base, planetarium with brass Sun above 9 collars on central axis, from which brass arms lead to ivory planets and corresponding moons, the Earth with orbiting Moon, Jupiter with 4 orbiting moons, Saturn surrounded by 7 moons and Uranus surrounded by 6 moons.
WITH: Engraved and Geared tellurium mounted with 2 ¾-inch diameter terrestrial globe with hand-painted engraved gores, signed within cartouche “Lane’s Illustrated Globe / London: 1818,” globe surrounded by engraved meridian and equinoctial arc.
Purchased by the current owner on November 10, 2010 from Trevor Philip & Sons Ltd, London from their 2010 catalogue Globes and the Mechanical Universe, pp. 18-21.
British scientific instrument maker Benjamin Harris first described his new Orrery in 1762: “The price of orreries being very great, is one reason why this most useful machine is not so common, as one might wish it were, on account of its great service in conveying an easy and adequate idea of the true constitution of the system of the world, and, of course, the first principles of astronomy and geography; so essential a part of the education which our English youth should have. In order to remove this difficulty, I have contrived a Manual Orrery, that shall come at a small price and will readily shew what is, and what is not the true system of the world, with its various phaenomena, or appearances of day and night, vicissitude of the seasons, nature of eclipses, &c. as will be easy to apprehend from an account of its structure and various uses…” (Martin p178).
The present example, one of only a handful known in private hands, is based on Martin’s Orrery but reflects the astronomical developments to that time. It also includes the tellurium attachment. The scientific instrument maker William Harris operated out of his 50 Holborn Road, London address, as on this example, from 1816-1839.
Martin, Benjamin. The Description and Use of Both the Globes, the Armillary Sphere, and Orrery…. London: [1762].
Please note that this lot contains ivory. The export, import and transfer of such material are subject to international and domestic laws and regulations, which may vary by jurisdiction. Sotheby’s will generally be unable to assist Buyers with the shipment of lots containing such material. Bidders are responsible for ensuring, prior to bidding, that they understand any applicable requirements or limitations relating to the lot. A Buyer’s inability or delay in obtaining any required licence, permit or other documentation, or in arranging lawful export, import or transfer of the lot, will not constitute grounds for cancellation of the sale or for delay in payment.
You May Also Like
