Accession No

1763

Brief Description

nocturnal, English, 2/4 18th C

Origin

England

Maker

Class

navigation; dials

Earliest Date

1725

Latest Date

1750

Inscription Date

Material

metal (brass); wood (boxwood)

Dimensions

width 115mm; depth 266mm

Special Collection

Holden-White collection

Provenance

On loan from The Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge. Donated by Charles Holden-White to the Fitzwilliam Museum. C. Holden-White collection, no. 1935-117.

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 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; 32 points of declination of Pole Star above and below the pole, for both Bears.

fair condition, cracked

References

Events