ASTRONOMICAL CLOCK FROM SENEX & FERGUSON MUSEUM RARITY

Gehäuse

Glaskabinett: Schutzverglasung im perlstabverzierten Messingrahmen mit frontseitiger Doppeltüre, Eckbekrönung durch vier Messingknäufe (665 mm x 860 mm x 390 mm).

Case

Glass Cabinet: Glazed brass frame ornamented with bead moulding, on the front double door, edges surmounted by four brass knobs (665 mm x 860 mm x 390 mm)

Unterbau

Eiche, intarsiert, circa 1790, beschnitzt, Konsoltischartiges Untergestell auf abgesetzten, nach unten konisch zulaufenden Beinen mit Kanneluren, balusterförmige Kapitelle mit geschnitzter Flechtbandornamentik, Zargenkasten mit Kanneluren, leicht überstehende Platte mit zarten Intarsien: eingelegter Erdglobus mit Breiten- und Längengraden als Pendent zum darüber gestellten Himmelsglobus, daneben eingelegter Himmelsglobus mit Sternen, als Pendent zum darüber gestellten Erdglobus 695 mm x 860 mm x 400 mm)

Bottom section

oak, inlaid, circa 1790, carved, console-shaped stand, resting on tapered and fluted table-legs, baluster-shaped capital with an interlaced ornament, fluted lateral sides and inlays on the table top, showing on the left the terrestrial globe with its latitudes and longitudes and on the right the celestial globe with its stars. (695 mm x 860 mm x 400 mm).

Zifferblatt links

Messingzifferbring, radiale römische Stunden, radiale arab. Minuten, zentral floral graviert; Ausschnitt für polychrom bemalte Mondphasenscheibe, durchbrochen gearbeitete Eisenzeiger. Darunter befindet sich ein Erdglobus, der sich alle 24 Stunden um die eigene Achse dreht und während des Jahres den Neigunswinkel ändert und dadurch die Jahreszeiten berücksichtigt. Der Bereich der Sphäre, welcher sichtbar ist reflektiert die Sonne.

Dial left side

brass chapter ring, radial Rom, numerals, radial Arab. minutes, florally engraved in the center, aperture for a polychrome painted moon disc, pierced iron hands, Below that is a terrestrial globe, turning on its own axis every 24 hours and oscillating forward and backwards for a perid of a year, reproducing the attitude of the annual inclination and in consequence the seasons. The part of the sphere, which is on view is reflecting the sun.

Zifferblatt rechts

Messingzifferblatt mit Indikation des Monats-, Datums- und Tierkreiszeichens. Fenster mit numerischer Anzeige: "1-19", zentral floral graviert. Durchbrochen gearbeitete Eisenzeiger. Darunter befindet sich der Himmelsglobus mit statischer Neigung, mit der Möglichkeit ihn auf betreffenden Längengrad einzustellen.

Dial right side

brass chapter ring with the indication of month, date and the signs of the Zodiac. Window for numeric indication: "1-19". In the center floral engravings, pierced iron hand. Below that is a celestial globe, the inclination of which is static, but can be adjusted following the latitude of the place of use.

Movements

brass, massive, steel ring / fusee, Graham escapement, Pendulum.

John Senex, James Ferguson, Benjamin Martin

Martin's reissue of Ferguson's reissue of Senex's globes first published circa in 1720, John Senex, a Royal geographer and map publisher had been working in London since 1702. In 1706 he advertised a pair of 32 cm globes in the London Gazette. Senex also published atlases and books and ran a business selling maps and scientific instruments. The quality of Senex's globes was such that they were re-drawn, improved and continued by James Ferguson, Benjamin Martin and in 1793 even Dudley A. Adams, although the name Senex was kept on the cartouches. Senex made globes at 7, 23 and 41.5 cm diameters.
James Ferguson was a farmer's son, and was shepherd in his youth. He loved nature, had a talent for drawing and was generally keen to learn, though for a long time he was unable to attend school. For many years he earned his livelihood through portrait painting and later became a qualified doctor. He loved mathematics, mechanics, geography and astronomy, and is still highly regarded in these subjects today. With the aid of a Royal scholarship and as a member of the Royal Society of London and a private tutor, he spent the rest of his life in London. His abilities are evident from many geographical and cartographical works, among these globes.
Ferguson acquired the Senex copper plates for the globes at auction in 1755, amended them, but due to debts sold them on to Martin around 1756. Benjamin Martin (1704-1782) was a travelling lecturer who came into publishing books, atlases and maps as well as a number of elaborate mechanical planetariums. Martin is known to have delegated his work, as he drew the instruments, which were then built by other people.

From "The World in your Hands, An Exhibition of Globes and Planetaria. From the Collection of Rudolf Schmidt" by Museum Voerhaave, Leiden / Christie's 1995 as well as auction catalog Dr. Crott No. 76, 24th November 2007