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Lot 1063* - A194 Furniture, Porcelain & Decoration - Thursday, 24. September 2020, 10.00 AM

HORIZONTAL, PORTABLE SUN DIAL WITH CASE

Paris, 1st half of the 18th century. Signed Menant à Paris (probably Pierre Louis Menant, mentioned in Paris 1730 – 1750).
Silver(?), engraved. Octagonal base plate with recessed compass and four engraved hour scales, after an example by Michael Butterfield. Hinged gnomon, the hand designed as a bird, for reading the latitude. The back, engraved with information on the latitudes of different cities. The case, lined with dark leather.
7 × 6 × 3 cm.

The Butterfield dial is a kind of semi-universal, horizontal dial that was first produced in the second half of the 17th century. It owes its name to the British instrument maker, Michael Butterfield (1635 - 1724), who lived and worked in Paris. Michael Butterfield was an English manufacturer of scientific instruments working in Paris. From about 1663, he operated a workshop for precision instruments under the name Aux Armes d'Angleterre. Butterfield built surveying instruments, among other things, but was mainly known for his portable horizontal sundials with a compass and an octagonal dial.


CHF 1 200 / 1 800 | (€ 1 240 / 1 860)

Sold for CHF 3 250 (including buyer’s premium)
All information is subject to change.