Italian Bronze Quadrant
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
15th century ?
This unsigned quadrant, dating to the 15th century, is crafted from bronze or brass and measures 48 mm in radius. The instrument serves as a portable timekeeping device, featuring engravings on both faces.
One side displays a table of the sun’s noon altitude throughout the year at three-day intervals, calculated for a latitude of 45 degrees. The reverse face is engraved with a scale of degrees along the limb and a series of hour lines ranging from 16 to 24. Constructional features include a small aperture near the apex intended for a plumb bob, which is now missing, and the remains of broken sights. Evidence of regional influence is noted in the month initials, suggesting a possible origin in the Venice or Bergamo area, where specific phonetic shifts are common.
The object currently resides in the British Museum collection.
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
- 48 mm
- Latitude
- 45 degrees
- Material
- Bronze or brass
- Provenance
- Presented by the Duke of Buccleugh in 1887
- Month Initials
- Z, F, M, A, M, Z, L, A, S, O, N, D
- Place recorded
- Italy
- Registration Number
- MLA 1887, 5-21.1
Design
- Visible features
- • Small hole for missing plumb bob at apex • Engraved sun altitude table for latitude 45 • Hour lines numbered 16 to 24 • Sights broken off from the instrument
- Condition and Provenance
- The physical state of the instrument reflects its age and use. The quadrant is noted as being slightly bent, and the original sights are broken off. Additionally, the small hole intended to house the plumb bob remains, though the bob itself is absent. These conditions are consistent with its status as a historical artifact held within the British Museum's collection. The quadrant was acquired by the British Museum in 1887, having been presented by the Duke of Buccleugh. It is documented in F. A. B. Ward's 1981 publication, 'A Catalogue of European Scientific Instruments in the Department of Medieval and Later Antiquities of the British Museum', which serves as the primary scholarly reference for the item.
- Engravings and Functional Layout
- The quadrant is double-sided, with each face serving a specific astronomical or timekeeping function. One side is dedicated to a table documenting the sun's maximum altitude at noon across the calendar year, organized in three-day intervals. This table assumes a local latitude of 45 degrees, recording altitudes from a minimum of 23 in December to a maximum of 68 in June. Two moon-like shapes are positioned on the sides of this table. The reverse side of the instrument features a degree scale along the curved limb and a sequence of hour lines numbered from 16 to 24. These lines are intended for the measurement of Italian hours. Near the apex of this side are decorative radiating lines. The engraving displays inconsistency in its script, as the number five is rendered in a Gothic style, while the remaining digits utilize a later form of lettering.
- Regional Attribution and Iconography
- The quadrant lacks a maker's mark, yet certain characteristics offer clues to its origin. The initials used for the months include 'Z' for both January and June, a departure from standard Italian naming conventions. An ornamental shield is located near the apex of the instrument. While it has been tentatively associated with the Este or Gonzaga families, surface damage has obscured the fine details of the engraving, leaving the identification inconclusive. This iconography, combined with the linguistic evidence of the month labels, provides the primary basis for the current regional attribution.
Identification
- 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: The exact provenance of the shield near the apex remains uncertain due to damage, preventing definitive identification as Este or Gonzaga.
- Research required: The precise manufacturing date remains queried as 15th century.