Accession No

5832

Brief Description

toy orrery game, by W. M. Strain and Sons, Irish, 1850-1930

Origin

Ireland [now Northern Ireland]; Belfast

Maker

W. M. Strain and Sons

Class

astronomy; games

Earliest Date

1850

Latest Date

1930

Inscription Date

Material

paper (card); glass; stone; plaster?

Dimensions

width 143mm; length 143mm; depth 20mm

Special Collection

Provenance

Purchased from Christie's, Los Angeles, on 13/06/2001.

Inscription

The
Astronomical
Puzzle.
To
Place Correctly
the 8 Planets
of the Solar System
WM Strain & Sons. Belfast
Patentees
& Makers

Description Notes

Toy Orrery game with colour printed backing and plaster (?) planets in glass fronted red cardboard box.

Printed colour backing with 8 marked planets surrounding a central sun. The moons of each planet are also marked and an asteroid belt is indicated with the word ‘Asteroids' between Mars and the outer planets. Each planet is marked by a depression designed to catch the correct plaster planet. 8 variably sized plaster planets are contained within, each is painted with a simulated rock effect in different shades.
In the top left hand corner of the puzzle are the words “The Astronomical Puzzle”. In the top right hand corner are the instructions “To place correctly the 8 planets of the Solar System”. In the bottom left hand corner are the makers “WM Stain & Sons. Belfast. Patentees & Makers” and in the bottom right hand corner the wholesalers “Sale Wholesale Selling Agent. H.R. Hughes. London.”
The planets are held in place in the red cardbord, glass fronted box with a plain backing.

Fair condition.

References

Events