Menu
158 of 520
Previousnext
FirstLast
Sorted by:
Instrument type
Maker
Place
Date
Overview
Details
 Catalogue


Celestial Globe
Signed 'HRD'
Late 16th century; German
Gilt brass; 170 mm in height

The instrument consists of a celestial globe on a gilt stand decorated in relief. The upper hemisphere can be removed and contains a scaphe dial.

The celestial globe is 94 mm in diameter and centred on the ecliptic poles. There are engraved circles for the arctic and antarctic circles, the tropics and the colures, as well as additional great circles of celestial longitude marking the divisions of the ecliptic into the signs of the zodiac. The equator is represented by a thin band whose divisions are alternately cross-hatched; only a few graduations for right ascension are marked. The thin ecliptic band is also alternately cross-hatched.

The constellations are figured and named, and there are six star symbols to distinguish different magnitudes. A table above Gemini indicates the convention adopted for representing the six stellar magnitudes.

Below 'PISCES NOTIVS' are the initials 'HRD', possibly those of the unidentified maker.

The inside of the upper hemisphere contains a scaphe dial with lines for common hours 4 to 12 to 8, and for Italian hours 8 to 24.

Provenance: Lewis Evans Collection 2903 and G. 560.

Stephen Johnston

Museum of the History of Science, Oxford
Inventory number 45841

© Museum of the History of Science, Oxford. All rights reserved. Information and images provided here may not be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the museum.

Basic URL: http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/epact/catalogue.php?ENumber=62502

|| Introduction || Essay || Museums || Bibliography || Conventions || Credits || Privacy || Help ||
|Catalogue entries |Handlist || Makers || Places || Articles || Glossary || Search || Home ||