Celestial and Terrestrial Spheres, c. 1725, made in Rouen, France, where the earthenware factories specialized in large polychrome sculptures. These were made for the Château de Bois-Guilbert.
The beautiful celestial sphere is decorated with zodiacal and mythological figures representing the constellations. The base shows the guardian deities of the four elements: Juno for air, Amphitrite for water, Ceres for earth, and Vulcan for fire.
The terrestrial sphere is based on engravings by Guillaume Delisle executed around 1700, including sea monsters. The base has allegorical figures of the seasons: Flora for Spring, Ceres for Summer, Bacchus for Autumn, and Vulcan, the muscular fellow shown above, for Winter. (How is he both Fire and Winter?) The crocodile at the very bottom represents the American continent.
Photos by Charles Reeza at the Musée de la Céramique de Rouen.
