ARMILLARY SPHERE, Ptolemaic model, constructed of brass, wood and thick cardboard;
The meridian ring rests on a semicircular support made of matt black lacquered brass; The horizon ring is also attached to this carrier at the top. The atmosphere can be rotated at any angle to the horizon ring by means of the meridian ring. The metal support rests on a roughly bell-shaped intermediate piece, which in turn rests on a matt black stained, ebony-like pedestal in the shape of a sober cylinder and with a circular widening at the bottom.
The whole is made in the neo-classical style of Louis-Philippe, so that this atmosphere can be dated between ± 1825 and 1848. The origin is more than likely French. It is not Delamarche, whose atmospheres show typical orange-red border decorations. It is possible that the armillary was made by the French geographer Charles Dien, because the base and the bell-shaped metal top on the base are almost identical to known globes and spheres by this maker. The edges of the horizon and meridian ring are reinforced with a matte black, U-shaped brass ring, which gives the object a serene aspect. The ≈ 4.2 cm wide horizon ring has an adhesive circular band at the top, beautifully patinated, and divided from the inside to the outside into four bands with:
- 16 cardinal directions
- 12 months
- 12 zodiac names with the zodiac symbols
- division into 360°, four times from 0° to 90° (a bit more difficult to read)