It inspired all sorts of whims and fancies that I ultimately wove into a fairy tale complete with muse, the earth, the moon, some famous inventors, a dog and a rabbit.

As I was working I noticed that the way I designed the differential gearing actually created a spare drive that sat directly below the emperor's feet, or where they would be if he were to sit in the chariot.

I started by looking at what others had done before me. You see, over the years there have been attempts by many different people to reconstruct the chariot.

You see, my ambition was not to confound the engineering world but simply to create a beautiful piece of art.

In practical terms the South Pointing Chariot was a simple direction finder. It could have been made to point in any direction - north, south, east or west.

The chariot was purchased by a private collector who took it home to New York. I take pleasure in knowing that it was built to last for at least a thousand years.

The hoop is there to remind us not to jump through it, not to submit to someone else's control.