Old Star Maps & Celestial Charts
Explore old star maps, celestial charts and decorative astronomical prints from the celebrated Harmonia Macrocosmica by Andreas Cellarius and other historic works of celestial cartography.
First published in 1660, Cellarius’s atlas brought together astronomy, cosmology and classical mythology in some of the most beautiful engraved plates of the Dutch Golden Age. Our carefully restored editions preserve the rich colour, fine detail and elaborate decorative borders of the originals.
Each celestial map is printed individually in our Cornwall workshop using archival pigment inks on heavy textured art paper.
Historic Star Maps and Visions of the Heavens
Science, Belief and Imagination
Celestial charts occupy a special place between scientific observation and visual art. Some explain the movement of the planets according to Ptolemaic, Copernican or Tychonic systems; others arrange the stars into constellations populated by heroes, animals and mythical creatures. Together they show that the history of astronomy was not a simple march towards modern knowledge, but a lively contest between different models of the universe.
The Art of the Celestial Atlas
Seventeenth-century celestial atlases could be spectacular publications. Concentric circles, mathematical diagrams and carefully plotted stars were surrounded by clouds, instruments, classical figures and richly coloured ornament. Andreas Cellarius's Harmonia Macrocosmica is especially admired for this union of intellectual ambition and theatrical design, and its plates remain among the most recognisable images in historic astronomy.
Constellations and the Night Sky
Star maps are immediately engaging because their subjects remain visible above us. Familiar constellations may appear in unfamiliar orientations, viewed from outside the celestial sphere or arranged according to the conventions of an earlier atlas. Their Latin names and elaborate figures lend them a timeless quality, while small astronomical details reward close inspection.
Choosing a Celestial Print
A single star chart can provide a dramatic focal point; a group of related plates can create the atmosphere of an old observatory or cabinet of learning. These reproductions suit astronomers, lovers of mythology and anyone drawn to the meeting of art and science. They are supplied unframed so the final presentation can be tailored to the image and room.
