A GERMAN PLANETARIUM

ERNST SCHOTTE, circa 1892

Details

A GERMAN PLANETARIUM
ERNST SCHOTTE, circa 1892
Signed on the dial ERNST SCHOTTE & Co. BERLIN, W Geographisch-artistische Anstalt. the geared mechanism working and crank handle actuating all the planetary arms, the nine arms supporting: Mercury; Venus; painted Earth and Moon; Mars with two satellites; eight asteroids; Jupiter with five satellites; Saturn with two rings and eight satellites; Uranus with four satellites and Neptune with one. The graduated paper horizon dial in white yellow and blue with calendrical and zodiacal scales with another inner calendrical dial with index pointer; on a cast bronze column and plinth of geometric and floral design.
41in. (110cm.) maximum diameter

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Lot Essay

A prolific manufacturer of globes and planetaria of various sizes and forms, Ernst Schotte & Co. was one of the major names in late nineteenth century German globe-making. Their planetary models designed for didactic use have also an elegant appearance. The number of satellites on each planet can help us date this orrery quite narrowly: Amalthea (Jupiter V) was discovered in 1892, and Phoebe (Saturn IX) in 1899.

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