591

Circa 1550

MID-16TH CENTURY BOXWOOD NOCTURNAL

Probably British. Unsigned. The main disk carved from a single piece of boxwood, the handle cut and pierced with heart-shaped decoration and incised stars. Outer edge of the disk marked with a calendar scale showing months and days, and the signs of the Zodiac. Smaller disc divided into twenty-four hours using two twelve-hour scales with two projecting pointers stamped "LB" (for Little Bear) and "GB" (for Great Bear). Adjustable index arm fitted to the two disks using a brass nut and bolt pierced by a hole in the center. Reverse stamped with a compass rose and table with the bearing of certain stars located in the Little Bear (Ursa Minor) and Great Bear (Ursa Major) relative to the North Star.
Length 10.25". Scale diameters 4.5".

  • Provenance:
    Tesseract, Hastings-on-Hudson, New York.
    Purchased by Richard Kelton, 1985.
    The Kelton Collection of Marine Art & Artifacts.
  • Literature:
    Elizabethan Instrument Makers: The Origins of the London Trade in Precision Instrument Making by Gerard Turner (Oxford University Press, 2000), p.66.

    Note:
    Nocturnals were used from the Late 15th through the Early 18th Centuries to tell time by the stars during hours of darkness. With the addition of a compass rose, it could also be used to obtain course directions from the position of the North Star. The majority were used in the northern hemisphere and oriented to the pole star Polaris. A simple instrument, the nocturnal's chief benefits were ease of use and compactness.

Shipping Options

Invaluable Shipping

  • Expert Care packing and Shipping
  • Shipment Protection
  • Real-time tracking

Arrange your own

  • You will coordinate with us to arrange your own shipping

Local pickup

  • You will coordinate with us and arrange pick up time after payment.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

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

August 20, 2021 9:30 AM EDT
East Dennis, MA, US

Eldred's

You agree to pay a buyer’s premium, as outlined below, and any applicable taxes and shipping.
Buyer's Premium
$0 - $499,999:
25.00%
$500,000+:
10.00%

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $49 $5
$50 $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