When we were talking about enfilades last week, I let slip that I’d found a little something at Christopher Filley’s that might be just the thing in front of my dining room window.
I sneaked back in that week and bought it, but coyly asked Christopher if he would “store” it for me until after the holidays; I wasn’t sure Mr. Blandings would appreciate the importance of having it just now.
He agreed, of course. He said he hadn’t had an armillary sphere in quite a while and wasn’t this one a gem? Yes. Except I didn’t know exactly what an armillary spere was, so I came home and hit two sites, Google and 1st dibs.
A wealth of information on the net, naturally. The first known armillary sphere was developed by the Greeks in 255 B.C. There is evidence of the devise in China in the first century. The body is generally a sphere which originally represented the sun, and then later, the earth. The concentric rings represent the equator, the meridians and the parallels. In its simplest form, it is a sundial. There are, however, wildly complicated models that have many rings representing the movement of the stars and planets.
Then to 1st dibs. The deed was done. It’s always unpleasant to find you might have spent more than you needed to. But don’t forget, I live in the Midwest, so that is rarely the case. The armillary sphere above is magnificent. Bold and sculptural. Bronze, English, 19th century, he commands $4500.
Ah, but look. Apples to apples, even though it’s Jonathans to Red Delicious. This sphere is the same model as mine, American mid-century, with a little more rust, but he still has his feet firmly on the ground. $525.
This is interesting. Same model, but with copper accenting added later. $850.
I think the patina is wonderful. Still, I need to figure out what to do about my little structural problem. Some sort of base will clearly need to be made. And a pedestal will have to be purchased. But since my guy was well under three hundred, I think I’m coming out ahead. Oh, and Mr. Blandings? I told him the same day. I can never keep a secret from him. Nobody likes to be cut off at the knees.
Congrats on your wonderful find! I love finding Christmas presents for myself too 🙂
Thanks, Courtney! I’m a little better at it than I should be.
DEAL!!!! Great score!
It’s a beaut! Well, really it’s a present for the house and everyone enjoys it:
1)Decorates dining room- good for business dinners as a topic of conversation and investment(gift for hubby)
2)Teaching topic (gift for the kids)
3)Aesthetically pleasing ( gift for Mom).
Creative ability to rationalize: “priceless!”
Shopping 101= One for you and one for me…
P.S. I so enjoy your blog. Just discovered decor blogs recently. What a treat!
Meg – not quite as good as book thing, but still, a good find!
Oh, Linda – I do like the way you think!
London – a lovely shopping philosophy! Welcome to the neighborhood – there are some great bloggers out there. Happy to have you in the mix.
I’m with the others! Great find! And, I think you deserve it 😉
Jennifer – thanks, fortunately for me, Mr. Blandings agrees!
Merry Christmas–and thanks for the lesson. I had no idea what these were for.
Mrs. Blandings,
I suggest a welding shop or a metal fabricating shop. They can craft a copper base which can easily be verdigrised to match. Wouldn’t take much effort or material. Copper IS higher these days, though, but I’d take the shot above it with the base and get them to match it. Great patina! Like yours best.
Very nice!! Those statues always remind me of the phrase “Shoot for the moon” LOL!
Jan at Rosemary Cottage
embed legs in your friend stylish rock! from the over 10 room!
great blog. i enjoyed my visit!