An 18th-Century brass Butterfield-type pocket sundial,

Details

An 18th-Century brass Butterfield-type pocket sundial,
signed Langlois A Paris aux Galleries du Louvre, the octagonal brass plate engraved with decorative motif and four hour rings, one calibrated from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., the others from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m., for latitudes of 43°, 46°, 49° and 52°, the folding, spring-loaded, engraved gnomon in the shape of a bird adjustable for latitudes between 40° and 60°, the compass with engraved rose and blued steel needle with brass cap, the reverse engraved with the latitudes of 26 European cities, in plush-lined, leather-covered case -- 3in. (7.6cm.) long

See Colour Plate

Literature

Maurice Dumas Scientific Instruments of the 17th & 18th Centuries and their Makers (London, 1972)
Georges Baptiste et al. La Mesure du Temps dans les Collections Belges (Brussels, 1984)
Dirk Syndram Wissenschaftliche Instrumente und Sonnenuhren (Munich, 1989)

Lot Essay

Claude Langlois (circa 1730-51) was one of the finest French instrument makers of the 18th-Century, engineer in mathematical instruments to the Académie des Sciences and one of the select group of craftsmen working in the Louvre. Syndram, who illustrates two similar dials by Langlois as items 52 and 53, comments that: "Die wichtigste Pariser Werkstatt für mathematische Instrumente in den Jahren 1730 bis 1780 war diejenige von Claude Langlois (tätig um 1730 - um 1751) ... In seinen Taschensonnenuhren strebte er das Niveau der Butterfield-Modelle an". This dial would seem to be from the later part of Langlois' career, as it carries the "Louvre" signature. Baptiste, who illustrates and describes a similar dial in silver as item 55, states that: "Sa première enseigne 'C. Langlois à Paris au Niveau' fut par après changée en 'C. Langlois - Ingénieur - Aux Galeries du Louvre'".

More from Scientific & Engineering Works of Art, Instruments & Models

View All