F2053-1

Horizontal dial Long Caption: Portable horizontal dial for latitude 48° north. Silver octagonal dial-plate with a gilt-brass compass, gnomon and gnomon brace. On the obverse side is an hour scale with a small central circular acanthus motif. The gnomon is hinged, pierced and decorated with foliage designs, and folds flat when not in use. The reverse side is plain apart from a decorated gnomon brace. The compass is silvered on the inside. The cardinal points are marked by crossed lines and named in Latin. The needle is blued, with an open circle for South, and is surmounted by a brass pyramidal pivot. It is offset 3° West of north to allow for magnetic variation. The dial-plate is supported by the compass bowl and one turned silver leg. Credit line: © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Georges Prin Collection Object: AST0480 Artist: unknown Date: mid to late 17th century Medium: silver; gilt-brass; brass; glass Size: 6 mm x 34 mm x 45 mm Click here to buy a bespoke print of this image.