The armillary is 36 cm high and 26 cm wide. In good condition. A nice decoration piece for your interior. The material is copper with a vertical wooden ring on a wooden base. The globe and the meridians are plastered with a layer of paper on which the Zodiac and protractor are depicted, the images are in very good condition. The meaning of Armillary An Armillary or armillary sphere is a celestial sphere with metal rings which depict the main circles of the sky. The armillary was invented by Eratosthenes in 255 BC. The name of the instrument comes from Latin, armilla, meaning bracelet. Usually the earth, but later the sun, was put in the middle of metal circles. The faces of the horizon, the meridian and the celestial equator are represented by solid circles. The armillary is designed as a tool to determine position or time. Scientists from the Renaissance enjoyed portraying with an armillary, as a symbol of wisdom and knowledge.