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Liquid-filled compass on gimbal and mounted on mahogany wood plank

$1,316.61

£978.28

€1,100

CA$1,803.49

A$1,967.51

CHF 1,043.53

MX$23,704.06

NOK 13,244.39

SEK 12,125.59

DKK 8,379.66

About the Item

Liquid compass on gimbals and mounted on shaped mahogany wood plank. English manufacture of the late 19th century. The compass consists of a cylindrical-shaped vessel made of brass and copper, on whose bottom is attached a hard metal stem, on which the eight-twenty rose and complete with goniometric circle is resting properly constrained, so that the zero coincides with the magnetic polarity. Good condition, slightly worn fully functional compass rose. To minimize friction, the mortar is filled with low-freezing point liquid, also having the purpose of rapidly dampening any oscillations, and closed at the top by a strong protective glass. Compass diameter cm 13 - inch 5.2, board size cm 10.5x17.2 - inch 4.2x6.7, height cm 13 - inch 5.2. The Greeks and the Romans were still unaware of the possibility of harnessing magnetic fields for orientation, while it seems that this possibility was already somewhat known to the Chinese: around 2600 B.C. Emperor Hoang-Ti was able to overcome Prince Tchi-Yeou in battle thanks to a "magic" chariot, the See-Nan (chariot pointing south). The emperor, thanks to this device, identified the enemy's escape route, despite the fact that the enemy had concealed it through a blanket of smoke: fixed on the chariot was a human-shaped wooden silhouette that rotated on itself and, with its arm outstretched, always pointed south (pointing south of course was also pointing north at the same time, but south was considered by the Chinese to be the most important cardinal point). The Chinese also used their discoveries related to magnetic fields as a form of entertainment and spectacle: they would throw magnetized arrows as if they were dice, and these would line up in a south-north direction as if by magic, which greatly impressed and amazed the spectators.

Dimensions:
Height: 5.2 in (13.21 cm)Diameter: 5.2 in (13.21 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Brass
Period:
Late 19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1890
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Milan, IT
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU1020236297272

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