Triangular lattices were assembled on spherical surfaces and caps via thermal stress engineering on core/shell microstructures. The lattices on a complete spherical surface, when the total number is small, contain uniquely fivefold disclinations, whereas scars consisting of pentamer-heptamer chains emerged when more vertices are available ͑Ͼ360͒. Disclination-free pattern were obtained on caps, revealing the defect management strategy in nature. All the experimental observations can be explained by numerical studies to Thomson's problem ͓J. J. Thomson, Philos. Mag. 7, 237 ͑1904͔͒. These results can help understand the various patterns assembled on curved surfaces, and be of essential importance for the en masse fabrication of nanostructures on pliable substrates.