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Lot Essay
See p.532 in Prag um 1600 Kunst und Kultur am Hofe Rudolfs II (Freren, 1988) for the original instrument from the Strozzi colleciton.
Erasmus Habermel (fl.1585-1606), instrument maker to Rudolf II in Prague, is considered one of greatest Renaissance insrument makers. His instruments are of outstanding quality and rarley come to market (an astrolabe for the Duke of Parma sold Christie's King Street, 11 October 1995, £540,500). Unsurprisingly, his are amongst the earliest instruments to be copied and imitated.
In 1911 an article by GC Williamson appeared in The Art Journal reporting on the sale of the Strozzi collection of mathematical instruments, in this, he compared Habermel to Stradivarius. It is around this time that the first reproductions appeared, many of which found their way into national collections. The two instruments offered here are related to this early group of reproductions.
Erasmus Habermel (fl.1585-1606), instrument maker to Rudolf II in Prague, is considered one of greatest Renaissance insrument makers. His instruments are of outstanding quality and rarley come to market (an astrolabe for the Duke of Parma sold Christie's King Street, 11 October 1995, £540,500). Unsurprisingly, his are amongst the earliest instruments to be copied and imitated.
In 1911 an article by GC Williamson appeared in The Art Journal reporting on the sale of the Strozzi collection of mathematical instruments, in this, he compared Habermel to Stradivarius. It is around this time that the first reproductions appeared, many of which found their way into national collections. The two instruments offered here are related to this early group of reproductions.