Accession No

0174

Brief Description

horizontal string-gnomon dial, brass, by Pierre Le Maire, French, 1750 (c)

Origin

France; Paris

Maker

Le Maire, Pierre

Class

dials

Earliest Date

1735

Latest Date

1785

Inscription Date

Material

metal (brass), string; hide (leather); wood; cloth (velvet)

Dimensions

71 mm x 109 mm; compass 34 mm x 57 mm; box length 131mm; breadth 85mm; thickness 37mm

Special Collection

Robert Whipple collection

Provenance

Purchased by Robert Stewart Whipple from R. Middegaels, Paris, France, on 13/11/1924.

Inscription

‘Pre, Le Marie AParis’

Description Notes

horizontal string-gnomon dial, brass, by Pierre Le Maire, French, c. 1750.

Rectangular brass base on 4 adjustable feet; 3 hour scales for 49˚, 47˚ and 51˚ N. Scale for 49˚ divided VI - XII, I - VI, numbered by I, subdivided to 5 minutes; scale for 47˚ divided 6 - 12, 1 - 6, numbered by 1, subdivided to 15 minutes; scale for 51˚ divided VI - XII, I - VI, numbered by I, subdivided to 15 minutes. Inset trough compass with 4 point rose, 4 cardinal points ‘nord est sud ouest’ and fleur-de-lys north; scale for magnetic variation divided 35˚W - 0, subdivided to 5˚ (from 30˚ subdivided to 1˚); (index set at 21 W). Decorated gnomon support with scale of latitudes divided 35˚ - 55˚, numbered by 5˚, subdivided to 1˚. Vertical index for plumb bob beneath. On verso a knurled head screw to take in slack on gnomon.
Verso of base: towns with latitudes ‘Londres 51 31’; ‘Lille 50 40’; ‘Dunquerque 51 31’; ‘Bruzelles 50 51’; ‘Bordeaux 41 51’. Verso of compass box ‘Paris 48 91’.....
Wooden case covered in black leather, lined with red velvet; brass hinges, hook fasteners and push-button fastener.

Good condition (box fair)

References

Events