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A beautiful Celestial Table Globe produced by Gerard & Leonard Valk

About the Item

A magnificent and very rare early 18th century celestial table globe produced by Gerard and Leonard Valk. Established at the end of the previous century by Gerard Valk, and assisted by his son Leonard, the firm became the only publisher of globes in the Netherlands in the 18th century. In Amsterdam Gerard began his publishing firm producing maps and atlases in co-operation with Petrus Schenk about 1680. It was about 30 years later that he began to publish globes with his son. After the death of Leonard, the firm continued under the stewardship of his widow, Maria Schenk, and towards the end of the 18th century the globe factory came in to the possession of Cornelis Covens. A handsome and impressive 46cm Dutch celestial table globe. Made up of a set of beautiful original hand coloured, copper engraved gores. With a (wooden) horizon ring (a circular band of printed paper laminated to wood or metal, wrapping around the equatorial area of a globe, and generally containing calendar or zodiacal information.); A highly unusual two pointer brass hour ring (a small, thin metal circle on the top of a globe, divided into 24 segments and imprinted or engraved with the hours of the day and night. By turning it, one can calculate the time difference between various locations on the globe); a graduated brass meridian ring (a semi-circular band, usually metal, arcing around the globe and passing over, or attached to, the poles. A semi-circular meridian is called a half meridian; a complete circle, a full meridian). With four fluted table legs complete with circular, turned ebony feet; resting on sturdy cross-stretchers; an ebony central stand; a base consisting of beautiful circular rings of segmented (wood), inset with alternate concentric circles of an ornate and pleasing floral design. Height 28 in. / 71cm. Legends: Title, in a simple oval cartouche, printed on a separate piece of paper and pasted below Cetus. URANOGRAPHIA / SYDERUM ET STELLARUM / in Singulis Syderibus conspicuarum / exhibens Delineationem accuratissimam, / qua / ex Observationibus Astronomi plane Singularis / IOHANIS HEVELII / usque ad finem anni MDCC emendata est. / Nova praeterea methodo additus est / ex mente LOTHARII ZUMBACH M.D. et Mathem. Claris. / HORIZON ad MERIDIANUM AMSTELAEDAMENSEM / accurate per annes plures quam ducentos Lunae Syzygias indicans, / praeter annes commune et bissextiles; / Opera et Studio / GERHARDI et LEONHARDI VALK / Amstelaedamensium 1715. / cum Privilegio. Uranographia, showing a most accurate depiction of the constellations and of the conspicious stars in the individual constellations, which is adapted from the observations of the matchless astronomer Johannes Hevelius for the end of the year 1700. Moreover, by a new method invented by Lotharius Zumbach, Doctor of Medicine and a famous mathmatician, the horizon at the meridian of Amsterdam is added, showing accurately for more than 200 years the syzygies of the moon, as well as the common years and the bissextiles. By the labour and enthusiasm of gerard and Leonard Valk from Amsterdam, 1715. With privilege. Dedication: A leaf encircled cartouche (between Hydra and Argo.) VIRO / AMPLISSIMA DIGNITATE / ac / MERITORUM SPLENDORE / CONSPICUO / IOHANNI TRIP, J.U.D. / Reipublicae Amstelaedamensis / CONSULI GRAVISSIMO, / Societatis Indiae Orientalis / MODERATORI INTEGERRIMO, / Toparchae in berkenrode / IUSTISSIMO, / &c. / URANOGRAPHIAM / hic ea, qua par est, / reverentia / D.D.D. / GERHARDUS et LEONHARDUS / VALK. To Johannes Trip, J.U.D., a man noteworthy for is most splendid deserts and for the brilliance of his virtues, the most eminent consul of the State of Amsterdam, the incorruptable director of the East India Company, most upright Lord of Berkenrode, etc., the Uranographia is given and dedicated with equal reverence, by Gerhard and Leonard Valk. Cartography: Complete with the Equator, the tropics, the polar circles, a half equinoctal colure, a half circle of declination through 30 degrees. Ecliptic, circles and parallels of latitude every 5 degrees. The equator and ecliptic are graduated. The stars / constellations are represented as their figures, and their names are displayed in Latin. There is a legend that is crowned by the sun. There is an attractive “Sextans Uraniae” situated just below “Leo.” What is a Celestial Globe? A celestial globe (star globe) is a globe of the stars and constellation. They are mapped onto a sphere to show how they appear in the night sky from the earth, as if the earth were in the centre of the sphere. Given this point of view, the constellation figures are rendered differently from those on a star map -- they are usually reversed and drawn as if we were viewing them from the back, from some imaginary point in the cosmos beyond the earth and stars. Condition. This globe is in fine condition, with no facsimile work done. The globe has been cleaned and revarnished, and the gold embossing has been supplemented in certain places. The colouring is fine and original, as has a lovely looking ‘aged patina’. The celestial figures are finely engraved and rendered in truly glorious and eye-catching detail, including a lot of gold embossing to the stars, the constellations, and to the decorative sextant. The Celestial Heavens. (What does the globe display.) Constellation names that come from Greek mythology, including the names of the zodiac constellations, are the ones that are best known. These constellations were first catalogued by the Greek astronomer Claudius Ptolemy in the 2nd century CE. Ptolemy did not name these constellations, but simply documented them in his Almagest. The constellations were well known to observers long before his time. These include: Orion (the Hunter) Andromeda (the Chained Maiden) Cassiopeia (the Queen) Perseus Hercules Ursa Major (the Great Bear) Ursa Minor (the Small Bear) Canis Major (the Greater Dog) Canis Minor (the Smaller Dog) Auriga (the Charioteer) Draco (the Dragon) Cygnus (the Swan) Leo (the Lion) Aquarius (the Water Bearer) Names associated with figures from mythology were given to a number of prominent constellations. These include most of the members of the Perseus family (Perseus, Andromeda, Cassiopeia, Cetus, Cepheus, Pegasus, and Auriga), Hercules family (Hercules, Sagitta, Aquila, Lyra, Cygnus, Hydra, Crater, Corvus, Ophiuchus, Serpens, Centaurus, Lupus, Corona Australis, and Ara), Orion family (Orion, Canis Major, Canis Minor, Lepus, Monoceros), Zodiac family (Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpius, Sagittarius, Capricornus, Aquarius, Pisces), and Ursa Major family (Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Draco, Canes Venatici, Boötes, and Corona Borealis). Most of the modern constellations that were not catalogued by Ptolemy were created between the 16th and 19th centuries. Many of them were unknown to the Greeks because they lie in the far southern sky and are invisible from mid-northern latitudes. Twelve constellations were created by Dutch explorers who sailed to Indonesia in 1595. They were named after the animals the explorers encountered on their journeys. These constellations were first depicted on a celestial globe designed by the Dutch-Flemish astronomer Petrus Plancius in 1597/1598. They include: Apus (the Bird of Paradise) Chamaeleon Dorado (the Dolphinfish or Swordfish) Grus (the Crane) Tucana (the Toucan) Volans (the Flying Fish) Musca (the Fly) The Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius added 10 new constellations in the 17th century. Seven of these are still in use: Canes Venatici (the Hunting Dogs) Lacerta (the Lizard) Leo Minor (the Smaller Lion) Lynx Scutum (the Shield) Sextans (the Sextant) Vulpecula (the Little Fox) Conclusion: A unique opportunity to acquire an exceptional celestial globe from one of the major world globe publishers. The Dutch have never been surpassed in their lavish designs and their eye for detail in globe making. Gerard and Leonard Valk continued on this wonderful tradition of the Dutch ‘golden age’ of wonder, (approximately from the 1590s until the 1670s) from famous 17th century predecessors like Blaeu, Van Langren, Hondius and Van Keulen. This magnificent globe would be a most handsome addition to any institution, museum or household it entered. Globes of this age and magnificence are always sought after by collectors and institutions alike, as they have the combined appeal of value and undoubted aesthetics. This terrific celestial globe is a gorgeous and superb testament to the globe maker’s art and technical skill from over three hundred years ago. Know examples around the World: BELGIUM 1 CZECH 1 FRANCE 1 ITALY 1 NETHERLANDS 2 POLAND 2 SWEDEN 2 GERMANY 6 Provenance: from a private collector, The Netherlands.
  • Creator:
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 28 in (71.12 cm)Diameter: 18 in (45.72 cm)
  • Style:
    Dutch Colonial (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Other,Paper,Wood,Amsterdam School
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1715
  • Condition:
    Replacements made: Cleaned and revarnished, the gold raising has been supplemented in certain places.
  • Seller Location:
    ZWIJNDRECHT, NL
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU9419237343972
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