Accession No

0818

Brief Description

cube dial box and compass, purportedly by Michael Butterfield, French, c. 1700, but actually a 2/4 20th Century fake

Origin

Maker

fake, unknown maker Butterfield, Michael [purported]

Class

dials

Earliest Date

1925

Latest Date

1936

Inscription Date

Material

metal (electroplated silver); glass

Dimensions

Special Collection

Robert Whipple collection

Provenance

Purchased from F. Barker & Son, London, England, on 30/10/1936.

Inscription

‘Butterfield
APARIS’ (on compass set into base)

Description Notes

Cube dial box and compass, fake, purportedly c. 1700 (signed ‘Butterfield APARIS’) but actually 2/4 20th C.

Hammered metal, electroplated. On 4 bun feet with domed hinged lid and ball finial. Vertical north, east, south adn west dials, divided 6 - 8 all by 1 each with a motto: ‘Night cometh’, ‘Tyme Wanes Away’, ‘Docet Umbra’ and ‘Tempus Fugit’. Folding gnomons. Beneath the base is a hinged compass signed with 16 points in French (this is not an original part).

A reconstruction using an original part (the compass)

good condition; tarnished

References

Events