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ID #SA310705
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An Early 19th Century Floating Sundial and Compass as Seen in the National Maritime Museum
Opus Antiques
sold SA310705
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Opus Antiques

Opus Antiques

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An Early 19th Century Floating Sundial and Compass as Seen in the National Maritime Museum

19th century
Description

This is a fabulous sun dial and compass in a turned lignum vitae case. It has a makers label on it and there is one almost identical in the National Maritime Museum.

A very clever device it works like a magnetic compass, the user does not need to know where North is to be able to tell the time.

The magnectic dial is for latitude 52 degrees North. The dial is printed on compass card with a red line to edge, on the underside of which is a magnet set on a point to orientate the dial correctly. Compass ring has 16 points to the edge of the card with flour de lys at the north and stars between the points. A snake biting its tail surrounds the hour circle. A brass gnomon sits on the compass card.

It retains its original paper label to the underside of the lid adorned with the kings coat of arms and inscribed Patronised by the king, Porters Magnectic Sundial.

Diameter approx 6.5cm

Lovely quality piece. c1824

Declaration

Opus Antiques has dated this piece to the 1800s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA310705
Dealers Notes

Own a piece of history

Description
This is a fabulous sun dial and compass in a turned lignum vitae case. It has a makers label on it and there is one almost identical in the National Maritime Museum.
“
A very clever device it works like a magnetic compass, the user does not need to know where North is to be able to tell the time.
Opus Antiques
fig 1. An early 19th century floating sundial and compass as seen in the National Maritime Museum
fig 1. An Early 19th Century Floating Sundial and Compass as Seen in the National Maritime Museum

The magnectic dial is for latitude 52 degrees North. The dial is printed on compass card with a red line to edge, on the underside of which is a magnet set on a point to orientate the dial correctly. Compass ring has 16 points to the edge of the card with flour de lys at the north and stars between the points. A snake biting its tail surrounds the hour circle. A brass gnomon sits on the compass card.

fig 2. An early 19th century floating sundial and compass as seen in the National Maritime Museum
fig 2. An Early 19th Century Floating Sundial and Compass as Seen in the National Maritime Museum

It retains its original paper label to the underside of the lid adorned with the kings coat of arms and inscribed Patronised by the king, Porters Magnectic Sundial.

Diameter approx 6.5cm

Lovely quality piece. c1824

Date of Manufacture

Opus Antiques has dated this piece to the 1800s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA310705
Opus Antiques
Opus Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Oct 2014

Antique treen, boxes & decorative georgian items

Dealer Profile

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An early 19th century floating sundial and compass as seen in the National Maritime Museum
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Archive I An early 19th century floating sundial and compass as seen in the National Maritime Museum

An Early 19th Century Floating Sundial and Compass as Seen in the National Maritime Museum

Archive II An early 19th century floating sundial and compass as seen in the National Maritime Museum View II
Archive III An early 19th century floating sundial and compass as seen in the National Maritime Museum View III
Archive IV An early 19th century floating sundial and compass as seen in the National Maritime Museum View IV
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 2,374
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
2,374
An early 19th century floating sundial and compass as seen in the National Maritime Museum
An early 19th century floating sundial and compass as seen in the National Maritime Museum
Ref: SA310705
An early 19th century floating sundial and compass as seen in the National Maritime Museum
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