Celestial globe


Amsterdam William Janszoon Blaeu beginning of the 17th century Wood, pressed paper height 51 cm, circumference 108 cm The globe shows the stars in the sky with the placement of the most important stars, encircled with figural shapes that correspond with the names of the constellations. On a wooden ring the data is arranged in concentric circles: degrees of latitude, astrological symbols with appropriate images and Latin names, parallel calendars (Calendarium vetus and Gregorianum), calendar of the phases of the Moon, names of saints, compass card with Greek and Latin names, and points of the compass in Dutch. In vignettes with inscriptions Blaeu addresses astronomers and says that he has, according to the principles of Tycha Brahe, shown more than 300 stars and gives instructions for calculating movements of stars at a specific time of year and a table with explanations for the symbols of the size of stars. Finally, he dedicates the globe to Duke Mauritius, Count of Nassau and ends with a long signature. It is presumed that the globe came from the Zrinski library in Cakovec, although all information regarding its origin has been lost. M. Skiljan, Stare mjere, Zagreb, 1975, catalogue number 77. Restored in the workshop for paper of the Croatian State Archive (headed by Tatjana Musnjak).




HPM/PMH-023847