Description

A German (lowland) three inch (75 mm.) square compass/sundial with a crisp hand painted dial, blued ornate compass needle and pivot point, original glass with small imperfection and sitting atop a black wooden plinth c.1780.

The 36 mm. compass dial is divided into 32 areas/cardinal points with OST for east, etc. and demarcated by green, blue and yellow paint colours. The area around North (Nord) is further subdivided for an area of magnetic deviation (0-30 +/-). No damage or deterioration of the dial (see photos). The hand chiselled compass needle has it’s original bluing and bright brass pivot point cover. The needle still points North. The glass is held in place by a soft metal ring (silver)?

The brass sundial sits atop the compass with a hand crafted folding gnomen (only folds in one direction as it has a stop to indicate 90 degrees to the horizontal. The dial is divided into hours using Arabic numerals only (4 a.m-12 and 1-8 p,m,). Makers mark? (lotus flower or tulip?) seen at the Southern position of the gnomen. The angle of the gnomen is 50 degrees (Rhineland/Bavaria/Frankfurt areas). It is held in place with four brass pins. The plinth is blackened wood, bevelled on the edges and is in perfect condition. No case. A fine example.