Platt Copy Brass Surveyor's Compass

Description:

Platt Copy Brass Surveyor's Compass, unsigned, with 5-inch silvered dial with foliate-engraved cardinal points and hatched subcardinal points, simple fleur-de-lis at North, needle ring divided 0-90 in four quadrants, blued-steel needle on brass lifting-arm, compass box on gimballed mount in shaped brass frame with straight arm, one ssidetamped CF, the other with vial, 16 in. , (lacking sights),in diamond-shaped stained wood field case with indistinct pencil signature.

Note: Probably a contemporary copy of a Platt compass by a skilled provincial maker. The mounting of the compass box on the gimball is virtually identical on the two instruments, although this compass is somewhat smaller than the Platt in the previous Lot. The crisply-engraved dial is also more decorative than the plainer, mathematical work of Platt.
Estimate $1,500-2,000

Keywords