Armillary sphere

The roots of the armillary sphere go back centuries but the design has retained its appeal, and sculptor David Harber creates some of today's most spectacular examples, says Jenny Oldaker

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W "hen the earliest versions of the armillary sphere were developed by ancient astronomers, could they have imagined that many centuries later, evolved variations of their creations would be gracing gardens, parks and other outdoor spaces around the world? It's easy to see why the spheres are still popular - these miniature representations of celestial objects serve as astronomical devices within sculpted forms, all entwined with the rich history of planetary discovery.