An unusual home made 9.5in. (24cm) radius sextant,
5
An unusual home made 9.5in. (24cm) radius sextant,
constructed from Boxwood. Reading from 0 to 70 degrees on the arc, with brass pinnule sight. Arranged for left hand use, the horizon mirror (missing) in a rotating boxwood mount with brass wheel adjuster. Simple index arm, with re-used bevel edge mirror, fitted with a curved lever bearing on to a movable needle, which provides detailed reading from 0 to 5 degrees on a separate scale. The reverse of the frame inscribed with various scale tables.
Sold for £62 inc. premium

Footnotes

  • No provenance survives, but the scale and the settings suggest that this instrument might have been employed in very high latitudes, where the sun is closer to the horizon.

Category: Collectibles / Maritime

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Contacts

Lionel Willis Bonhams
Work
Montpelier Street
London, SW7 1HH
United Kingdom
Work +44 20 7393 3804
FaxFax: +44 20 7393 3873
Specialist - Maritime