Accession No
4569
Brief Description
cubic ellipse mathematical model, by Martin Schilling, German, 1900-1960 (c)
Origin
Germany; Halle
Maker
Schilling, Martin
Class
mathematics; demonstration
Earliest Date
1900
Latest Date
1960
Inscription Date
Material
metal (white metal); plastic (celluloid); paper; one other material
Dimensions
height 401mm; breadth 146mm; depth 120mm
Special Collection
Provenance
Donated on 08/11/1996.
Inscription
‘Cubische Ellipse
8 Serie, Nr. 1.
Verlag Martin Schilling Halle a S.’ (paper label on side)
Description Notes
Object is an elliptical cylinder bound with coated metal rims screwed in place, and coated metal seam along one side. Painted red line on inside of plastic cylinder representing the cubic equation. Printed label with model and maker details attached to the metal seam.
Condition fair (coating is being corroded; plastic is dirty and discoloured; flaking of the red line); complete.
References
Events
Description
At the end of the 19th Century, mathematical models became commercially available through firms such as Brill and its publishing predecessor Martin Schilling. Models were mostly designed by mathematicians and made of different materials such as plaster, wood or string. Illustrating theory of curves and surfaces studied at the time, models were bought by many universities in Europe as teaching and visualising aids. This model was acquired from Prof. John Coates at University of Cambridge who studied various aspects of Iwasawa theory, such as the study of the arithmetic of elliptic curves in non-Abelian infinite extensions. The painted red line on inside of the model’s plastic cylinder represents the cubic equation.
11/03/2014
Created by: Allison Ksiazkiewicz on 11/03/2014
FM:40270
Images (Click to view full size):
