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Clock-driven Chinese celestial globe
Clockdriven celestial globe by Qi Mei-lu of Wuyuan, China, 1830, with horizon ring, pillars and base. Marked with Chinese ascerisms.
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Dated 1830, this celestial globe was made in Wuyuan, China by Qi Mei-lu. The metal globe depicts Chinese star patterns and is labelled in Chinese script. Inside the globe a clockwork mechanism turns the sphere in time with the Earth's rotation. The celestial globe is a three-dimensional model of the heavens on which the stars are plotted on the outside of a sphere. Originating in the Ancient World it was probably inspired by the discovery that the Earth was round. The globe could be used to teach and demonstrate various astronomical principles.
- Measurements:
-
overall: 340 mm 345 mm, 10.84kg
- Materials:
- brass (copper, zinc alloy) , bronze (copper, tin alloy) , steel (metal) and gilding
- Object Number:
- 1988-1422/1
- type:
- celestial globe and component
- Image ©
- The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
