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19th c. Chinese south pointing chariot - Toy or something more?

Posted By: Tim
Posted Date: Jan 06, 2014 (11:16 AM)

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This is not the usual thing that seems to be posted on the message board, so I would appreciate any comments from anyone who might have some ideas on the age and scarcity of this object.

Has anyone seen a southern pointing chariot like this? It measures about 10" tall x 14" long x 7" wide. More photos can be viewed here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/23676403@N07/sets/72157639481068143/

Pointing man is carved from boxwood. Chariot is made from hongmu and constructed in classical furniture style with each side nicely carved.

I believe it is 19th c.

What I know about this piece is that it is called a south pointing chariot or cart (指南車).

Wikipedia has a short history on it that states it was first documented in 200-265 CE.

It operates on a gear and differential system that keeps the figure pointing south no matter what direction the cart goes.

There is debate as to whether the cart had a real practical use or was just a novelty, but in either case the invention was a great achievement of mechanical engineering.

Interestingly, the design has been re-invented throughout history because each period has somehow lost the original design.

Even in the 20th c., there has been attempts to re-invent the design to the original specifications.

There seems to be a great deal of historical research into the design of the chariot among the museum community, but I've never found any examples being sold in the art/antique trade.

The gear arrangement is different than any museum examples I have seen online. I have looked extensively....I can not find another like this.

Thoughts?

Thank you!

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