Armillary heliocentric planetarium
Category
Scientific instruments
Date
1810 - 1820
Materials
Brass, Pewter, Wood, Iron
Measurements
525 mm (Height); 310 mm (Diameter)
Place of origin
France
Order this imageCollection
Snowshill Manor and Garden, Gloucestershire
NT 1338172
Summary
Armillary Heliocentric Planetarium. Brass with engraved horizon zodiac ring of pewter, and meridian rings with stars and seasons. On iron support set on a turned wooden base (originally ebonized). Sun, Earth, and Moon crudely connected by three gear wheels. Correct number of planets (9). The four outside Mars are asteroids, with Jupiter, Saturn and an arm for Uranus (missing) outside those. French, no makers name, early 19th century (1810-1820). In notebook no.2, page 7 (1340945.2) Charles Wade refers to: 'Admiral 140 Orrery of brass, the Zodiac ring is Pewter. Shows sun, Earth and the planets, mounted on a turned ebonized base.' Includes sketch with dimension.
Provenance
Given to the National Trust with Snowshill Manor in 1951 by Charles Paget Wade.
References
Wade, 1944: Charles Paget Wade, Contents of Snowshill Manor. Volume 2 The Admiral’s Room, 1944, page ?