Lot 28
- 28
NEW PORTABLE ORRERY BY W.S. JONES, LONDON, 1794
Estimate
8,000 - 12,000 USD
bidding is closed
Description
- A Table of the Principle Affections of the Planets, Jany 1st 1794. Published as the Act Directs by W. & S. Jones. Designed for the New Portable Orreries by W. Jones, and Made and Sold by W.& S. Jones, 30 Holburn, London. London, 1794.
An 8 inch diameter portable tabletop orrery, with hand-colored engraved paper dial with zodiacal and calendrical scales, showing the months of the year, signs of the zodiac, details on the movements of the planets as well as on the satellites of Saturn and Jupiter, the movement of a comet, as well as the predicted appearance of the ring of Saturn from 1796-1810. Central gilt-brass sun, mounted onto multi-geared mechanism around which rotates the planets Mercury & Venus (in ivory), and the Earth (plaster globe with engraved hand-colored paper gores, signed "Jones London" cancel slip laid down on cartouche) & ivory moon. Earth & moon rotating above two rings, showing the phases of the moon and the signs of the zodiac. The whole operated by a hand-crank with turned-bone handle. Some repaired cracks to base.
Catalogue Note
AN EXCELLENT 18TH CENTURY ENGLISH PORTABLE ORRERY BY THE LONDON INSTRUMENT MAKER W. JONES.