Iron and Gold Quadrant
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1600 ?
This unsigned iron quadrant, measuring 95 mm in radius, is attributed to Italy and dated to circa 1600. The instrument features intricate inlay work using gold and silver throughout its surfaces.
Despite significant damage that has obscured some of the inscriptions and legibility of certain markings, the quadrant remains a distinct example of horological instrumentation. It was designed for a latitude of 42 degrees and utilizes Italian hours for timekeeping. Provenance records indicate the piece was formerly held in the Spitzer Collection before its acquisition by the British Museum in 1893. The physical state of the instrument reveals both the complexity of its original intended function and the effects of historical wear on the inlaid surfaces.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Italian quadrant
- Radius
- 95 mm
- Latitude
- 42 degrees
- Material
- Iron and gold
- Publication
- A Catalogue of European Scientific Instruments in the Department of Medieval and Later Antiquities of the British Museum
- Place recorded
- Italy
- Former Collection
- Spitzer Collection
Design
- Visible features
- • Decorative foliage motifs in gold and silver filling the negative space • Italian hour lines numbered from 10 to 24 • Inscription 'ELEVATIO POLI XLII GR' indicating the intended latitude • Double perforations located on all three edges
- Design and Surface Decoration
- The quadrant is constructed from iron, featuring elaborate decorative work achieved through gold and silver inlay. The instrument displays dense foliage motifs in the regions between the functional hour lines and the apex, as well as in the space adjacent to the latitude inscription. These decorative elements suggest a high level of ornamental detail applied to the primary functional surfaces of the tool. Due to the reported damaged state of the object, much of the original inlay is affected, leading to limited legibility of several inscriptions and lines.
- Provenance and Identification
- The quadrant was acquired by the British Museum in 1893, carrying the registration number MLA 1893, 6-16.6. Before entering the museum's collection, the object was held in the Spitzer Collection, a notable repository of historical items. It has been formally identified and catalogued by F. A. B. Ward in his reference volume concerning European scientific instruments. The object remains unsigned, and its date of origin is documented with an approximate attribution of circa 1600. The source categorizes the instrument as Italian, though it acknowledges the uncertainty inherent in the dating and attribution process by the inclusion of a question mark alongside the date. This documentation ensures the instrument's historical trajectory from the private Spitzer collection to its current institutional status.
- Functional Scales and Markings
- The instrument is designed specifically for a latitude of 42 degrees, with the inscription 'ELEVATIO POLI XLII GR' prominently placed on the limb area. One side of the quadrant features a degree scale numbered by five, accompanied by a zodiac scale divided to ten degrees with alternate shading. Additionally, a shadow square is inlaid and marked with the labels 'VMBRA VERSA' and 'VMBRA MEDIA', though portions of this square have suffered damage. The reverse side of the quadrant provides further astronomical utility, featuring a limb engraved with a degree scale numbered from ten to 90 by tens. Italian hour lines, numbered 10 to 24, are inlaid on this face. A corresponding zodiac scale is positioned on the right-hand side of this face, which matches the stylistic conventions and divisions observed on the primary side of the instrument.
Identification
- Inventory Number
- MLA 1893, 6-16.6
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Condition is noted as badly damaged, limiting the legibility of specific inscriptions
- Research required: The exact date is uncertain, expressed with a question mark in source documentation