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ID #SA1205628
FOR SALE
£380
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An Antique  Travelling Compass/sundial
For sale by Opus Antiques
for sale €445     $483
£380
Opus Antiques

Opus Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Oct 2014
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An Antique  Travelling Compass/sundial

18th century
For Sale by Opus Antiques
Description

An Antique  Travelling Compass/Sundial

This is a great Georgian pocket sun dial and compass with a domed top. It is housed in a lignum vitae case.

Similar examples are in the British National  Maritime Museum.

Declaration

Opus Antiques has dated this Antique Travelling Compass Sundial to the Georgian era.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1205628
Dealers Notes

Own a piece of history

Description
An Antique  Travelling Compass/Sundial

This is a great Georgian pocket sun dial and compass with a domed top. It is housed in a lignum vitae case.

Similar examples are in the British National  Maritime Museum.

Date of Manufacture

Opus Antiques has dated this Antique Travelling Compass Sundial to the Georgian era.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1205628
Opus Antiques
Opus Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Oct 2014

Antique treen, boxes & decorative georgian items

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Opus Antiques Profile Page

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A small, circular antique turned wood case with a domed, stepped lid designed to hold a travelling compass sundial.
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Archive I A small, circular antique turned wood case with a domed, stepped lid designed to hold a travelling compass sundial.

An Antique  Travelling Compass/sundial

Archive II A small, circular antique turned wood case with a domed, stepped lid designed to hold a travelling compass sundial. View II
Archive III A small, circular antique turned wood case with a domed, stepped lid designed to hold a travelling compass sundial. View III
Archive IV A small, circular antique turned wood case with a domed, stepped lid designed to hold a travelling compass sundial. View IV
Archive V A small, circular antique turned wood case with a domed, stepped lid designed to hold a travelling compass sundial. View V
Enlarged Archival View
Opus Antiques

Opus Antiques
Telephone 07941 285 532
Location
North Devon
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/opusantiques
Verified Since Oct 2014
Items For Sale 91
Items Sold 2,380
Opus Antiques
Opus Antiques
Verified Since Oct 2014
View Dealer Info
Location: North Devon, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/opusantiques
Verified
Oct 2014
For Sale
91
Sold
2,380
A small, circular antique turned wood case with a domed, stepped lid designed to hold a travelling compass sundial.
An Antique  Travelling Compass/Sundial
Ref: SA1205628
A small, circular antique turned wood case with a domed, stepped lid designed to hold a travelling compass sundial.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Detail View 4
Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectScientific Instruments
  • Period18th century
  • StyleGeorgian
  • MaterialTurned Wood, Brass, Glass
  • ColourDark Brown
  • MotifsConcentric stepped lid, Turned wooden casing, Circular compact form

This Georgian scientific instrument is a pocket sundial and compass housed in a turned dark brown lignum vitae casing of circular compact form. The piece has a polished dark finish and features a domed, stepped lid decorated with concentric turned mouldings and a central rounded finial. Light reflects off the smooth surfaces, showing subtle variations in grain colour across the wood and minor surface scuffs from age. The base has a simple turned profile with a visible horizontal join where the lid meets the lower section. Comparable examples reside in the British National Maritime Museum. Measuring 6 cm in diameter, the compact object sits easily in the palm of a hand. Today, it serves as an intriguing decorative accent on an office desk, bookcase or collector shelf in a gentleman's library, study or living room.

FAQs

A travelling compass sundial is a portable navigation instrument used prior to the widespread adoption of mechanical pocket watches to determine local time using solar alignment and magnetic north.

These compact instruments were typically crafted from turned hardwoods such as boxwood, mahogany, or fruitwood, housing engraved brass plates, paper compass dials, and glass covers.

Authentic pieces exhibit natural hand-lathe turning marks, age-appropriate patination, original brass or glass components, and period-correct typography or engraving on the interior dial.

Position the piece on a library desk, display it within a glazed curiosity cabinet, or place it atop stacked books on a side table alongside other wooden scientific instruments.

Store the wooden casing away from direct sunlight and fluctuating humidity, and clean gently with a dry microcrystalline wax polished using a soft cotton cloth.
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