Full Text:

KEPLER'S LEGACY CELEBRATED AT CHRISTIE'S

(one cut)

By Rita Easton

SOUTH KENSINGTON, ENGLAND -- Globes and planetaria were the subject of a

November 25 auction conducted at Christie's. Four viewing sessions were held

prior to the sale. Eighty-three lots from various consignors crossed the

block, with an additional 16 being passed, and two withdrawn.

Three of the last four prices realized were the top selling pieces of the

event, the firm saved the best for last. Lot 98, a pair of 18 inch diameter

library globes standing 32« inches high, fetched a spectacular $62,023

(current exchange rate is œ1 to $1.69). The George Adams Sr (1704-1772) pair

were marked with Latin and English text on the terrestrial, with the

accompanying celestial having the names of the months labeled in Latin, with

alternative names in English, Greek, and Arabic. Each globe was made up of two

sets of 12 hand painted gores. The lot fell within estimate.

Lot 101 garnered œ13,800. The George and John Cary pair, a globe and celestial

globe each measured 12 inches in diameter, each with 12 hand-colored engraved

gores, the celestial gores laid to the celestial pole, and decorated with

numerous constellation figures, and the terrestrial globe showing the tracks

of Cook's voyages, Vancouver and la Perouse, with the paper of the terrestrial

(unusually) showing the watermark "G. Wilmot 1831."

A pair of library globes consigned by the estate of the late Sir Fitzroy Hew

Maclean of Dunconnel, made by John and William Newton of London in 1828

reached œ29,900, doubling the high estimate. The 18 inch diameter spheres

stood 44« inches high on tripod stands, with each globe having engraved brass

meridian circle divided in four quadrants, and each made up of 12 delicately

hand-colored engraved gores. The terrestrial featured the equatorial graduated

in degrees, and the ecliptic graduated in days with symbols for the houses of

the zodiac.

A fine reproduction brass Copernican armillary sphere after Jonathan Sisson,

signed "Dean R. White fecit Bampton Devonia 1998," realized œ11,500. A one

inch diameter brass sunball was held on a central rod on the axis of the

ecliptic, with the planets Mercury, Venus, Earth with moon, Mars, Jupiter, and

Saturn held on revolving spindles from the rod. The sphere consisted of

equatorial, two tropic and two polar rings, the meridian circle divided in

four quadrants graduated in degrees, with engraved hour dial and pointer, and

the ecliptic band graduated in days with symbols for the houses of the zodiac.

It rested on a rolling brass ball, with four quadrant supports, to a tapering

stand with plinth base.

Recently, the original of this armillary sphere was conserved and is now on

exhibit in the Science Museum in London as part of the King George III

collection.

A brass armillary sphere, unsigned and undated, in the unmistakable style of

Johann Gabriel Doppelmayr (1671-1750) of Nuremberg, garnered a winning bid of

œ10,350. The rare early Eighteenth Century lot featured a center 1¬ inch

diameter terrestrial globe made up of 12 hand-colored engraved paper gores,

with ungraduated equatorial and ecliptic, with the meridian circle divided in

four quadrants and graduated in degrees.

The octagonal, hand-colored paper horizon ring was variously graduated in days

and degrees and showing months, compass points and Saint's Days, with

decorative border. The piece was supported by four turned ebonized oak legs

with bun feet, united by oak stretchers and a circular platform base. It stood

12¬ inches high.

All other items in the auction ranged from an affordable œ28 for a circa 1860

Klingers Kunsthandlung three inch globe, unmounted, to œ8,050 for a twelve

inch diameter Dudley Adams (1761-1830) of London terrestrial globe standing

22« inches high on a center post supported by three outswept legs.

Prices quoted reflect a required buyers premium.