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  • Butterfield-type sundial with case
  • Images (5)

Butterfield-type sundial with case

  • Images (5)

Butterfield-type sundial with case

Date: circa 1740
Inventory Number: 7033
Classification: Sundial
Subject:
time finding,
Maker: Pierre-Louis Menant (fl. 1730 - 1750)
Cultural Region:
France,
Place of Origin:
Paris,
Dimensions:
gnomon as found: 3 × 6.1 × 7 cm (1 3/16 × 2 3/8 × 2 3/4 in.)
closed: 1.2 × 6.1 × 7 cm (1/2 × 2 3/8 × 2 3/4 in.)
case: 2.2 × 7.9 × 7.2 cm (7/8 × 3 1/8 × 2 13/16 in.)
Material:
wood, glass, leather, brass, steel, silver,
Accessories: case
Description:
Silver octagonal dial plate with compass at one end. Four hour scales for latitudes 40, 45, 49, and 52 degrees are numbered alternately in Roman and Arabic numbers. Bird gnomon for latitudes 40 to 60.

Wind rose with fleur-de-lys pointing North. "N, E, S, O" mark cardinal points. "NE, SE, SO, NO" mark four intermediate points. Eight divisions are provided. The magnetic declination is marked east of north.

The reverse side of the dial plate is engraved with the names and latitudes (in degrees) of 16 European towns with 6 more on the back of the compass bowl, divided into 4 quadrants by latitude.

Octagonal shagreen box lined with velvet (brown top, orange bottom) with one hinge (left) and a button clasp. Marked in red 33.




Signedon top: Menant AParis
Functiontime-finding : 40-60 degrees
ProvenanceHervert; David P. Wheatland Collection, Topsfield, MA; Gift to CHSI c. 1985

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