About this artwork
An ornate brass armillary sphere floats in the middle of the night sky, tilted at a slight angle. Its broad, engraved rings cross and circle one another around an antique-style globe, mapped with faded land and sea in parchment tones and marked with a small navy compass rose. A rod runs diagonally through the centre, topped with a brass finial, and a turned pendant hangs beneath.
The sky behind is deep blue with the Milky Way rising on the upper right and warm stars glowing on the left. Below, clouds in gold-leaf texture, teal and rose drift past. The instrument itself is the star here, rendered in warm brass and honey-gold tones. This armillary sphere print suits anyone who loves old scientific instruments, maps and navigation, and gives a study or library the feel of a cabinet of curiosities.
About the Armillary Sphere
An armillary sphere is a model of the heavens built from rings, or armillae, from the Latin for bracelets. The rings represent key circles of the sky, such as the celestial equator and the ecliptic, usually arranged around a small globe of the Earth. Astronomers in ancient Greece and China used such instruments to teach and to measure the positions of stars. They remained popular through the Renaissance, and an armillary sphere still appears on the national flag of Portugal.
How to style it
Ideal for a study, library or home office with dark wood, leather and brass, and a perfect partner for the constellation star map or planetary orbits designs in a vintage-astronomy grouping. Explore the full Celestial Wall Art collection.
Choose your format
- Unframed Art Print on 250 gsm archival matte fine-art paper with a soft off-white tone. Ideal if you already have a frame.
- Natural Wood Frame with shatterproof acrylic glazing. Arrives assembled, ready to hang.
- Black Metal Frame, a slim matte-black aluminium frame with shatterproof acrylic glazing. Arrives assembled, ready to hang.
- Aluminium Print, printed directly onto a rigid 3 mm aluminium panel for a sleek, frameless look.
- Wood Print, printed directly onto a 2 cm wood panel for a warm, natural, gallery feel.
Sizes
Seven portrait sizes from 20 × 30 cm (8 × 12 in) to 50 × 70 cm (20 × 28 in). Not sure which one? Read our size guide.
Shipping
Free tracked shipping to most countries. Every print is made to order and produced close to you, in more than 30 countries across Europe, the UK, North America and Australia, which means shorter journeys and fewer surprises at the door. See shipping & returns.
Questions & answers
What is an armillary sphere?
An armillary sphere is a model of the sky made from interlocking rings that stand for celestial circles such as the equator and the ecliptic, usually around a small central globe. For centuries it was used to teach astronomy and to show how the heavens appear to move.
Is the gold in this design metallic?
No. The brass and gold are printed colours within the artwork, created with warm tones, shading and highlights rather than a separate metallic foil.
Is a frame included?
Only if you choose a framed format. The Natural Wood Frame and Black Metal Frame options arrive assembled with acrylic glazing and are ready to hang. The Unframed Art Print arrives without a frame, and the Aluminium and Wood Prints need no frame at all.
Which size should I choose?
As a rule of thumb, choose art about two-thirds the width of the furniture beneath it. 50 × 70 cm makes a statement above a sofa or bed, 30 × 40 cm suits shelves, desks and gallery walls. Our size guide shows every size to scale.
How is my print made and shipped?
Each print is made to order for you, then shipped with tracking from a production partner close to your address. You receive the tracking link by email as soon as your order leaves production.
Specifications
| Format | Unframed Art Print, Natural Wood Frame, Black Metal Frame, Aluminium Print, Wood Print |
| Print Size | 20 × 30 cm / 8 × 12 in, 30 × 40 cm / 12 × 16 in, 30 × 45 cm / 12 × 18 in, 40 × 50 cm / 16 × 20 in, 40 × 60 cm / 16 × 24 in, 45 × 60 cm / 18 × 24 in, 50 × 70 cm / 20 × 28 in |
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