Celestial globe

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This celestial globe made in China around 1820. It is made of tin-plated copper and is unsigned and undated. The globe would have originally fitted with a clockwork rotation drive, and is one of only five such early Chinese globes known.

The globe is made in two hemispheres, joined around the equator. It is marked with constellations and with lines for celestial longitudes and latitudes. Of hollow construction, the globe has a hole for a spindle at the poles, and a winding hole.

The first part of an astronomical and horological encyclopedia was published in 1807 in Shanghai and included a discussion about the construction of non-mechanised globes. However, it may well have provided the inspiration for this globe.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-102-819-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1984.102
• Date: Around 1820
  c. 1820
  
• Material:
• Dimensions: 8.00"
  
• What:
• Subject: 3. ASTRONOMY, Celestial globes (Departmental Classification)
  
• Who:
• Where: China
  
• Event:
• Description: 8" Chinese celestial globe of tin-plated copper, unsigned, c. 1820
  
• References:
  • Combridge, John H., 'The Clock-driven Celestial Globes of Qu Mei-Lu and Others' in Antiquarian Horology 17 (1987), pp 165-74 
• Translations:
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