Accession No
4572
Brief Description
ivory plaque featuring raised decoration depicting three astronomers, French [attributed], 18th century
Origin
France [attributed]
Maker
Class
astronomy
Earliest Date
1700
Latest Date
1800
Inscription Date
Material
ivory
Dimensions
breadth 73mm; height 54mm
Special Collection
Provenance
Purchased from Tesseract, New York, on 30/10/1996.
Inscription
Description Notes
The ivory plaque is oval in shape. The Tesseract invoice states that the plaque is hand carved, probably intended as a chest or furniture mount. On the front surface is raised decoration. This depicts a grassy scene with three individuals. At the left is a standing figure applying single handed dividers to a globe on a three legged stand. On the right are two figures, one kneeling with raised arm to view the sun which decorates the top of the oval, this figure uses a telescope. The second figure appears to be seated on some form of stool, observing the sun with an unidentifiable instrument.
Tesseract says the design is East Asian in taste “and an educated guess would be the depiction of Jesuit astronomers in 17th century China.”
Condition good. There is some surface dirt round the details of the raised decoration. There are also two hair line cracks. On the back of the plaque is what appears to be the residue of glue or even perhaps chewing gum.
References
Events
Description
This hand carved ivory plaque was probably intended to decorate a chest or other piece of furniture. It shows three astronomers making observations outdoors in the daytime. From left to right: one is seated on a stool or chair, observing the sun with an unidentifiable instrument; one is kneeling and viewing the sun through a telescope, and the third is measuring a celestial globe with dividing compasses.
The plaque was probably made in the eighteenth century. Its exact history is unknown. The general design appears European, possibly French, but some scholars have thought that the style shows signs of Chinese or other Eastern influence. The figures are wearing long flowing robes, maybe monks’ habits. One possibility is that the plaque depicts Jesuit astronomers in China.
Jesuit missionaries first reached China in the sixteenth century. China had an ancient tradition of astronomical and cartographic study: for example, the Emperor of China employed court astronomers at his observatory in Beijing. Many Chinese scholars were interested in comparing their own knowledge with astronomical discoveries, maps and technology from the West. At the peak of their influence in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Jesuit scholars occupied high positions at the imperial court in China. They translated scientific texts as well as religious texts into Chinese and introduced Chinese science and literature to Western Europe.
02/05/2008
Created by: Dr Jenny Downes on 02/05/2008
FM:40273
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