Jean Baptiste FORTIN (1750-1831) - Lot 123

Jean Baptiste FORTIN (1750-1831) Rare set of 3 spheres, terrestrial, celestial and armillary. The quarter meridians indicate the latitudes of major world cities. The equatorial table is engraved with the zodiac calendar. Turned and blackened fruitwood legs. The globe is signed in a cartouche: "Par le sieur FORTIN, ingénieur mécanicien du roi pour les globes". Another cartouche indicates that the globe was corrected by DELAMARCHE in 1786. The celestial globe is signed: "par le sieur FORTIN, ingénieur géographe à Paris" and shows the position of the fixed stars for the year 1780. The Ptolemaic armillary sphere bears a cartouche on the central earth: FORTIN, rue de la harpe. 1773. A very coherent set that can be dated to 1780, the date of the celestial globe. The terrestrial globe was revised a few years later. France, 18th century Diameter of spheres: 24 cm Total height 47 cm (Cleaning and wear restorations Jean-Baptiste FORTIN worked with BARADELLE the elder. In 1778, he bought Robert de VAUGONDY's collection, which he later sold to C.F. DELAMARCHE in 1795.