What does an armillary sphere do?

Hellenistic Greeks invented and used armillary spheres in the third century as a way to understand the horizon, meridian, equator, tropics and polar circles of the earth. They function as skeletal globes.

How do I read an armillary sphere?

To read an armillary sphere, first familiarize yourself with the parts. The ring along the base is the horizon. On the armillary, the outermost ring is the meridian, while the largest inner ring is the ecliptic ring. Locate the date on the ecliptic ring and place a marker that represents the sun on it. Turn the sphere to trace the path the sun will take on that day. Use the markings on the horizon to find the ascension of the sunrise, and the ecliptic ring to find out the elevation of the sun at noon. Find a collection of armillary spheres on 1stDibs.

Armillary Sphere

Contemporary Stainless Steel Console Table

White Marble And Brass Consoles

Art Deco Steel Console Table

Armillary Globe

Garden Sphere

Armillary Table

Navigation Instrument

Console Table Walnut Brass

A Mid Century Marble Topped Inlaid Armillary Table

$2,656

A Mid Century Marble Topped Inlaid Armillary Table

Located in London, GB

Wrought iron base with brass finials and feet with a fully functioning Armillary brass sphere within.

Category

Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Tables

Materials

Marble, Wrought Iron

Vintage Neoclassical French Country Metal Garden Armillary Sundial

$240Sale Price|54% Off

Vintage Neoclassical French Country Metal Garden Armillary Sundial

Located in Elkhart, IN

A beautifully crafted armillary half-sphere, evoking the timeless elegance of classical European gardens.

Category

Late 20th Century American French Provincial Garden Ornaments

Materials

Aluminum

Midcentury Bronze Astrological Armillary Lamp by Frederick Cooper

$2,000

Midcentury Bronze Astrological Armillary Lamp by Frederick Cooper

By Frederick Cooper

Located in Rio Vista, CA

Impressive mid-century modern bronze brass table lamp featuring a large astrological zodiac armillary sundial sphere. The lamp was produced by Frederick Cooper Chicago, Illinois.

Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Vintage Neoclassical French Country Brass Garden Armillary Sundial

$450

Vintage Neoclassical French Country Brass Garden Armillary Sundial

Located in Elkhart, IN

A beautifully crafted silvered brass armillary half-sphere, evoking the timeless elegance of classical European gardens.

Category

Late 20th Century American French Provincial Garden Ornaments

Materials

Brass

Vintage Neoclassical Brass Armillary Sundial on Green Marble Base

$580

Vintage Neoclassical Brass Armillary Sundial on Green Marble Base

Located in Elkhart, IN

A Grand Tour–style classical armillary half sphere in brass, mounted on a cylindrical green marble base.

Category

Late 20th Century American French Provincial Garden Ornaments

Materials

Marble, Brass

Vintage Neoclassical Brass Armillary Sundial on Green Marble Base

$580

Vintage Neoclassical Brass Armillary Sundial on Green Marble Base

Located in Elkhart, IN

A Grand Tour–style classical armillary half sphere in brass, mounted on a cylindrical green marble base.

Category

Late 20th Century American French Provincial Garden Ornaments

Materials

Brass

Rare Baroque 18th Century Nuremberg Celestial Globe by Johann Gabriel Doppelmayr

$18,077

Rare Baroque 18th Century Nuremberg Celestial Globe by Johann Gabriel Doppelmayr

Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE

Leipzig Dekker, E.: Globes at Greenwich: A Catalogue of Globes and Armillary Spheres at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, Van der Krogt, P.: Globi Neerlandici: The Produc...

Category

Antique 18th Century German Baroque Globes

Materials

Plaster, Oak, Paper

17th century ebonized Antwerp cabinet with painted panels, circle 1630

$73,900

17th century ebonized Antwerp cabinet with painted panels, circle 1630

Located in PARIS, FR

They are personified by young women displaying the attributes of the four kingdoms of nature. The armillary sphere for Air, a lit torch for Fire, the flowerpot for Earth and an urn f...

Category

Antique 17th Century Belgian Baroque Cabinets

Materials

Wood

Thomas Messenger and Sons 'Atlas' Sculpture Bronze Lamp Base, England circa 1835

$7,140

Thomas Messenger and Sons 'Atlas' Sculpture Bronze Lamp Base, England circa 1835

By Thomas Messenger

Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos

Additional search terms: English Regency, Regency, Georgian, George, Neoclassical, Classical, Empire, Federal, Greek, Roman, Greek Revival, Victorian, Grand Tour, country house, eart...

Category

Antique 19th Century English Regency Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Orbital Atomic Age Iron and Copper Chandelier by Jefferson Mack

$6,800

Orbital Atomic Age Iron and Copper Chandelier by Jefferson Mack

By Jefferson Mack Metalworks

Located in Rio Vista, CA

The large-scale chandelier from the Jules Verne collection is crafted in the industrial steampunk style having armillary or atomic spheres with multiple interlocking bands of hand-fo...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Steampunk Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Copper, Iron

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Armillary Sphere For Sale on 1stDibs

At 1stDibs, there are many versions of the ideal armillary sphere for your home. Each armillary sphere for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using metal, iron and wood. Your living room may not be complete without a armillary sphere — find older editions for sale from the 18th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 21st Century. When you’re browsing for the right armillary sphere, those designed in Neoclassical, Art Deco and Industrial styles are of considerable interest. Many designers have produced at least one well-made armillary sphere over the years, but those crafted by Charles Francois Delamarche, Farquhar Transparent Globes and Frederick Cooper are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much is a Armillary Sphere?

Prices for a armillary sphere start at $450 and top out at $39,303 with the average selling for $2,383.

Questions About Armillary Sphere

What does an armillary sphere do?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertAugust 17, 2021
Hellenistic Greeks invented and used armillary spheres in the third century as a way to understand the horizon, meridian, equator, tropics and polar circles of the earth. They function as skeletal globes.
How do I read an armillary sphere?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
To read an armillary sphere, first familiarize yourself with the parts. The ring along the base is the horizon. On the armillary, the outermost ring is the meridian, while the largest inner ring is the ecliptic ring. Locate the date on the ecliptic ring and place a marker that represents the sun on it. Turn the sphere to trace the path the sun will take on that day. Use the markings on the horizon to find the ascension of the sunrise, and the ecliptic ring to find out the elevation of the sun at noon. Find a collection of armillary spheres on 1stDibs.