Accession No

0632

Brief Description

nocturnal, English, 4/4 18th C

Origin

England

Maker

Class

navigation; dials

Earliest Date

1775

Latest Date

1800

Inscription Date

Material

metal (brass); wood (boxwood)

Dimensions

length 245mm; width 110mm

Special Collection

Robert Whipple collection

Provenance

Purchased from T.H. Court in 11/1930.

Inscription

Description Notes

Boxwood nocturnal. Handle has a 3-lobed pendant and is pierced with a heart shape. Marked on the handle ‘BOTH BEARS’.
Main disc has date scale divided to named month, subdivided to 2 days; Feb 16/17 at tip. Hour scale divided 1 - 12, 1 - 12, numbered by 1, subdivided to 15 minutes.
Rotatable disc: two indexes marked ‘GB’ and ‘LB’. Lunar age scale divided 1 - 29[1/2], numbered by 1. Hour scale divided 1 - 12, 1 - 12, numbered by 1, subdivided to 15 minutes. [Great Bear index at 12; Little Bear index at 4]
Index arm and volvelle disc held by brass fitting with central orifice and octagonal nut, square nut on back.
Back of main disc has 8-point compass rose, subdivided to 16 points (incorrectly marked) and 32 points of declination of Pole Star above and below the pole, for both Bears.

good condition

References

Events