Accession No

1274

Brief Description

table orrery, attributed to Newton, English, 1794-1846

Origin

England; London [based on attributed maker]

Maker

Newton (John / William / & Co. / Son & Berry / & Son) [attributed]

Class

astronomy; demonstration

Earliest Date

1790

Latest Date

1846

Inscription Date

Material

wood; (oak, mahogany); paper; metal (brass, white metal); ivory

Dimensions

diameter of base 326mm; length of Uranus’ arm 400mm; height 402mm

Special Collection

Provenance

Inscription

‘Orrery’ (MS paper label on base)
‘Selby
228 L H/39’ (longhand on base)

Description Notes

Table orrery, English, 1794-1846. Attributed to Newton (this company has many incarnations, so given the date range it might be one of: John Newton; John & William Newton; Newton, Son & Berry; Newton & Berry; Newton & Son).

Oak base supported on 3 turned mahogany legs. Paper dial; printed and hand coloured. Graduated from the centre: image of sun; symbols of zodiac; rings for each of the planets to Saturn with images and symbols. Quadrants with names of seasons. Signs and names of zodiac, each sign divided to 1˚ . Calendar, divided to named month and to 1 day. 32 compass points and degree scale divided 0 - 90˚ - 0 - 90˚ - 0, numbered by 5˚, subdivided to 1˚. Signs, illustrations and names of zodiac, each sign divided [0] - 30˚, numbered by 5˚, subdivided to 1˚. Calendar divided to named month, numbered by 5, subdivided to 1 day. Brass arms for ivory planets to Uranus with six satellites; Saturn with seven, Jupiter with four. Earth in lunarium clockwork system. Silvered disc showing phases of moon, graduated 1 - 29 1/2, numbered by 2, divided to 1. Ivory and brass handle on side to cog below base, operates clockwork mechanism of lunarium and inferior planets only. Earth a globe with 12 paper gores; printed and hand coloured. Screw-on brass sun.

Condition fair (base badly cracked); complete.

References

Events