An early 18th-Century English brass universal equinoctial ring dial,

细节

An early 18th-Century English brass universal equinoctial ring dial,
signed Edm Culpeper Fecit, the meridian ring with sliding outer ring fitted with suspension loop and tightening screw, engraved on one side 90 - 0 - 80 (the scale obscured between 83° and 90° by the ring stop), the other with declination scale graduated 0 - 90, the pivoted equinoctinial ring graduated in hours I - XII twice, the inner edge graduated in 5 minute increments, the pivoted bridge with sliding pin hole gnomon engraved on one side with the initials of the months, the other showing the zodiac symbols and a scale marked 20 - Æ - 20 -- 6.1/8in. (15.6cm.) diameter

See Colour Illustration and Detail

出版

Catalogue Des Objets D'Art ... Composant La Collection De Feu M. Roussel Dont La Vente Aura Lieu A Paris ... Les Lundi 13, Mardi 14, Mercredi 15 Mars 1911 (Paris, 1911)
BRYDEN, David J. The Whipple Museum Of The History Of Science Catalogue 6 Sundials And Related Instruments (Cambridge, 1988)
CALVERT, H.R. Scientific Trade Cards In The Science Museum Collection (London, 1971)
CLIFTON, Gloria Directory Of British Scientific Instrument Makers 1550-1851 (London, 1995)
DAUMAS, Maurice Scientific Instruments Of The Seventeenth And Eighteenth Centuries And Their Makers (London, 1972)
MADDISON, F.R. A Supplement To A Catalogue Of Scientific Instruments In The Collection Of J.A. Billmeir, Esq., C.B.E. (Oxford & London, 1957)
ROHDE-HAMBURG, Alfred Die Geschichte Der Wissenschaftlichen Instrumente Vom Beginn Der Renaissance Bis Zum Ausgang Des 18. Jahrhunderts (Leipzig, 1923)

拍品专文

Edmund Culpeper (fl. 1684-1737) was the son of the clergyman Edward Culpeper, and was apprenticed to Walter Hayes in 1684 (cf. Clifton p. 73). Daumas notes that Culpeper took over Hayes' workshop at the sign of the Cross-Daggers in Moorfield in about 1706, and worked there until circa 1731, when he is recorded at Black-White House, Middle Moorfields (p. 228). One of the finest English instrument makers of his period, he is best known for the eponymous microscope pattern he made popular. However, his other instruments enjoyed a good reputation, and the variety of these is illustrated on his trade card, which includes a similar universal ring dial signed E Culpeper (see Calvert p. 19, item 106, illustrated as plate 22). Similar universal ring dials are listed by Rohde-Hamburg (pp. 37-38, fig. 46, signed Edmund Culpeper fecit), and in the Whipple Museum (item 226, signed Edm: Culpeper fecit, "circa 1700"), Collection Roussel (p. 43, item 203, signed Edm. Culpeper Londini fecit), and Billmeir (p. 66, item 229, signed E Culpeper Londini, "circa 1700") catalogues.