A RARE COPPER AND GILT-BRONZE CELESTIAL GLOBE DATED DAOGUANG YISI YEAR, CORRESPONDING TO 1845

the globe formed from two copper hemispheres, joined at the center, the surface engraved with the Chinese names of constellations positioned in relation to their locations in the sky as viewed from the earth, tilted along its axis, dated and signed Liu Yan around the south polar axis, encircled by a vertically placed meridian ring engraved with a numerical scale in degrees, and a equatorial ring engraved with the characters for the twenty-four divisions of the day, all set within a horizontal ring engraved with characters representing the twenty-four directions, supported by four upright curved dragons joined near the base by a circular frame and crossed stretchers

Eleanor M. Forbes collection, purchased from Gumps, San Francisco, circa 1940.

Architectural Digest, August 1993, cover.
San Francisco Chronicle Magazine, Antiques Issue: A New world for Old Things, 28th October 2001, cover.

There is wear to the gilding, and minor dents to the edges of the frame. The outer rings have been stablized. The globe with scattered dents, a hole, small breaks and repairs. There is the expected wear due to age and use.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The globe is signed Liu Yan, who was the nephew of renowned cartographer Liu Chengru, and a famous cartographer in his own right.

The Chinese solar calendar is based on the movement of the sun over twenty-four named points that are engraved on the horizontal ring 15 degrees apart. Solar movement in relation to the earth, over the ecliptic, is such that the points are 15.2 days apart, so that the earth makes one circle around the sun every 364.8 days. The horizontal ring therefore represents one year.  The ring set along the axial tilt is divided into twenty-four sections that represents the hours in one day. By aligning the time of the year with the time of day, and location on the earth, one could presumably get an idea of the positions of the stars in the sky.

Related globes are illustrated in Scientific and Technical Instruments of the Qing Dynasty, The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 1998, pp. 4-7, and in Exhibition of Chinese History, National Museum of Chinese History, Beijing, 2002, p. 177.