Flower show is sphere
Adam Hewitt • Published 6 May 2010 11:00
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Sculptor David Harber with Blagrave’s Armillary Sphere at St John’s College Oxford, where John Blagrave studied. Photo: Bernard Mattimore
The original sketch by John Blagrave
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A DESIGN masterpiece by one of Reading's most famous sons has been brought to life by one of his descendents.
Reading mathematician John Blagrave designed his Armillary Sphere, a type of sundial, in 1585 and it will finally go on public show later this month.
World-famous sundial and water feature creator David Harber had been making award-winning sundials for royalty and celebrities for 17 years before discovering by chance that Blagrave was his ancestor and shared the same passion.
Mr Harber has used Blagrave's 16th century engravings to produce a version of the Armillary Sphere, made from interlinking bronze circles representing the heavens, with Earth at the centre. It will be a highlight of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London from May 25-29.
Mr Harber, who used to work near Henley but is now based near Blewbury, Oxon, said: "I'd always known about him as an eminent mathematician and instrument-maker and scientist - he is one of the luminae. My mother's maiden name is Blagrave and it is only when I saw a family tree with this engraving by him which I knew well, it was a very famous sundial, that the penny dropped.
"It's accurate to about 20 minutes, which would have been enough in 1585!"
Flower show spokeswoman Eliz Helvacioglu said: "Blagrave has long been acknowledged as one of the finest ever exponents of mathematical instrument design and his work is still the subject of lectures at the British Sundial Society. His most ambitious design - The Mathematical Jewel - is recognised by experts as a scientific masterpiece. The only problem preventing a wider appreciation of his work has been the fact that no examples of Blagrave's work currently exist.
"To honour Blagrave's name and celebrate the family connection, Mr Harber resolved to bring this 400-year-old vision of an armillary sphere to life. As a result, Blagrave's original design will finally see the light of day as a complex and fascinating instrument in antiqued bronze."
The Armillary Sphere sundial will be on public display on stand MA15 at the Flower Show.
Mr Harber's next project is The Mathematical Jewel itself.
Visit www.davidharbersundials.co.uk and www.rhs.org.uk
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 03 Nov 10
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