Delamarche (creator), The armillary sphere

Delamarche (creator), armillary sphere with foot

France

1740-1817

Wood (turned and blackened); cardboard; paper (coloured)

Height 44 cm, diameter 34 cm

Château de Chamerolles, 18th Century Bedroom, Promenade des Parfums

The armillary sphere sits on the desk alongside the terrestrial globe which closely resembles it but is used for a very different purpose. These two objects, dating from the 18th century, are made of wood, cardboard and paper. While the terrestrial globe represents Planet Earth, the armillary sphere represents the movement of the planets, including the Earth, around the Sun. It consists of a set of circles, also called armilles, which are mobile and reproduce the movements of heavenly bodies.