No Image
No Image
Item Preview

LATE 18TH CENTURY AUGSBURG UNIVERSAL EQUINOCTIAL SUNDIAL

Unsigned. This equinoctial dial is the portable pocket Augsburg type, with an octagonal brass plate richly engraved with scroll and foliate pattern, containing a magnetic "blued" needle, over a compass rose engraved on the silvered base plate. The equinoctial hour ring is hinged to the North side of the base plate and the latitude arc is hinged to the West side of the plate. The gnomon is a narrow pointed rod set at the center of a pivoted bar lying across the East-West diameter of the hour ring. The hours engraved in Roman numerals on the ring from 3 (III) am to 9 (IX) pm. The adjustable latitude arc is marked with 10 – 80 degrees latitude. The reverse of the base is unmarked. Contained within the original leather and card shaped case, with a brass disk mounted on the interior lid engraved with latitudes for various European cities.
Diameter of dial 1.75". Overall diameter of box 2.5".
Condition: Very good. No apparent signs of restoration or repair, the needle is intact

  • Provenance:
    Christies, NY; Scientific Instruments, sale #6306 'Gemini' Auction, 1986
    The Kelton Collection of Marine Art & Artifacts.
  • Literature:
    Hester Higton, Sundial, An Illustrated History of Portable Dials, Philip Wilson, London, 2001.

    The pocket equatorial dial, which may have been of Chinese derivation, met universal time-telling requirements in an elegant small package. They were very popular during the sixteenth to eithteenth centuries.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We require prompt payment and removal of your purchases as stated in Paragraph 12 of the Conditions of Sale. If you plan to pick up your purchases, please call ahead and we'll make every effort to have your items ready. Our physical address is 1483 Route 6A, East Dennis, MA. Pick up of smaller items at our Mystic, CT location is also available with advance notice.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to provide shipping quotes until the invoice had been paid in full.
In house shipping is offered exclusively though UPS. All items are shipped with UPS insurance (max. $50,000). UPS insurance is billed at $2.70 for the first $100 and at $0.90 per hundred afterwards. Eldred's charges a minium $15 handling fee per package plus actual UPS shipping charges.
COLLECTION OF PURCHASES: Delivery or shipping arrangements must be made within seven (7) days from the close of the auction for all purchases. All items must be removed from Eldred's facilities within fourteen (14) days of the end of the auction. All items remaining after fourteen days may be subject to a $15/per item/per day storage fee. No items will be released unless storage fees are paid in full. Items remaining over thirty (30) days from the close of the auction may be sold for the buyer's account minus auction and storage fees.

The Marine Sale Session I
August 4, 2022 9:30 AM EDT
East Dennis, MA, US

Eldred's

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $2,999 $100
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $29,999 $1,000
$30,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000