Ptolemaic Armillary Sphere, by John Rowley, London, c. 1700 (MHS Record Details: Inventory number 15386)

Ptolemaic Armillary Sphere, by John Rowley, London, c. 1700

Object is on display.

Inventory Number:

15386

Object Type:

Object

Persons:

John Rowley

Date Created:

Place Created:

London United Kingdom (England) Europe

Accession Number:

1925-43

Brief Description:

One of a pair of English brass and silvered armilliary spheres made by John Rowley c.1700. The instrument is signed, "I OHN ROWLEY LONDINI FECIT"; it is undated.

See Inv 22258 for its companion item.

The pair of armillary spheres are constructed to demonstrate the planetary theories of Ptolemy and Copernicus. This instrument illustrates the Ptolemaic theory. Small compasses fitted under the horizon bands are used for orientating the instruments, and the bases are fitted with levelling screws. There are separate graduated arcs for measuring altitudes.

Primary Inscriptions:

Signed: "I OHN ROWLEY LONDINI FECIT"

Provenance:

Lent by Christ Church, Oxford in 1925.

Collection Group:

Orrery Collection

Material(s):

Brass
Silver

Dimensions: