Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Hong Kong, Jun 22, 2013

LOT 523

TELLURIAN ORRERY CLOCK WITH WESTMINSTER CHIMES ? RETAILED BY BUCHERER Franz Hermle, Germany, retailed by Bucherer, Edition 263, Ref. 352-070 SK. Made circa 2000. Fine, gilt-brass and mahogany, 8-day going, three-train Westminster striking table clock with Tellurian Orrery showing relative motions of the Sun, Earth and Moon, months with respective number of days and zodiac indication.

HKD 155,000 - 233,000

USD 20,000 - 30,000 / CHF 19,000 - 29,000

C. Circular, gilt-brass ionic columns glazed between, hinged curved glazed doors, the top with polished mahogany ring, curved mahogany base, glazed dome over the Orrery.
D. Matte silver, annular with radial Roman numerals, machined center with winding apertures, subsidiary seconds. Blued steel Breguet hands.
M. Rectangular, brass, going barrels for three trains, 11 jewels, lever escapement on a platform, three-arm balance, flat balance spring, shock absorber, index regulator, Westminster striking with four hammers on four bells. Tellurian Orrery movement. Demonstrating the solar system with the Sun, Earth and the Moon, the Sun in the center, polychrome terrestrial globe inclined at 23.5o gilt brass axis connected to the ring of the Sun?s seasonal changes of the latitude, black and silver moon with dark section always turned away from the Sun, rotating around the Earth in 29.5 days. The mechanism driven off the going train barrel transmitting the movement to the Earth?s movement around its axis, to the movements of the Moon; the Moon?s rotation around its axis, around the Earth and its latitude, the rotation around the sun, steel pointer showing the correct day on the annual gilt-brass ring on the top of the case with additional month and Zodiac indications. Movement signed Hermle, applied plaque for Bucherer. Dim. 27 x 36 cm


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 1

As new
Movement: 2

Very good
Dial: 1-01

As new

HANDS Original

Notes

The Orrery The first modern Orrery was built circa 1704 by George Graham and Thomas Tompion. Graham gave the first model (or its design) to the celebrated instrument maker John Rowley of London to make a copy for Prince Eugene of Savoy. Rowley was commissioned to make another copy for his patron Charles Boyle, 4th Earl of Cork and Orrery, from which the device took its name. This model was presented to Charles? son John, later the 5th Earl. Its importance was partially in that a mechanical model of the universe, correctly named a planetarium now gained the name Orrery. An Orrery should properly include the sun, earth and the (earth?s) moon plus optionally other planets. A model that only includes the earth, its moon and the sun is called a tellurian, the name deriving from the latin ?tellus? meaning earth. A tellurian shows the earth with the moon revolving around the sun. It uses the angle of inclination of the equator to show how it rotates around its own axis and shows the earth?s moon, rotating around the earth.