Lot 165
165
A MID-17TH CENTURY GILT-BRASS 'BENJAMIN BRAMERS PROPORTIONAL INSTRUMENT'
A MID-17TH CENTURY GILT-BRASS 'BENJAMIN BRAMERS PROPORTIONAL INSTRUMENT'

Signed 'Gemacht Durch Johann Friderich Fraken Vurghvogt Vnd Commendanten Vf Blassenburg 1640'

Details
A MID-17TH CENTURY GILT-BRASS 'BENJAMIN BRAMERS PROPORTIONAL INSTRUMENT'
Signed 'Gemacht Durch Johann Friderich Fraken Vurghvogt Vnd Commendanten Vf Blassenburg 1640'
The instrument with punched scales for 'LINEA TETRAGONICA; LINEA SUBTENSARUM; LINEA CIRCVLARIS; LINEA INSCRIPTORUM SPHR CORPORUM LINEA QVINQVE CORPORVM REGVLARIVM; LINEA CVBICA; LINEA GEOMETRICA; LINEA ARITHMETICA; LINEA RECTA', the hinged arm with rosette nut and suspension shackle
the instrument 12 in. (30.5 cm.) radius
Provenance
Rothschild inv. no. AR1792.
Literature
E. Zinner, Astronomische Instrumente des 11. bis 18. Jahrhunderts, p. 315.

Lot Essay

The construction of this instrument is of note, being made up of two thin sheets of brass, brazed and riveted together. This method of construction was probably used in order to economise on the use of brass, which was exceedingly expensive at the time.
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