Unsigned Copper Quadrant
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1400
This unsigned quadrant, dating to approximately 1400 and attributed to English origin, is constructed from copper with a 79 mm radius. The instrument is characterized by an incomplete state of completion, featuring hour lines and graduations that appear as sketched outlines.
The face includes two hole sights and a central perforation. A ring for suspending a plumb-bob is positioned near the apex. The reverse side features engraved concentric circles centered on the main perforation, with partial graduations present. The surface shows a distinct coloration and contains a dent near the edge. Now considered a historic artifact, the instrument's scientific utility is limited by the current legibility of its engravings, possibly due to corrosion or original incompleteness.
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
- Date
- circa 1400
- Type
- Quadrant
- Maker
- Unsigned
- Material
- Copper
- Former ID
- 93-01
- Dimensions
- 79 mm in radius
- Place recorded
- England
Design
- Visible features
- • Two vertical hole sights attached to the edge • Visible dent located near one edge of the plate • Small hole centered on the quadrant body • Suspension ring for a plumb-bob located near the apex
- Graduations and Inscriptions
- The functional markings of the quadrant are currently difficult to read, which is attributed to either material degradation or an original lack of completion. On one face, the limb is graduated to 2 degrees. Additionally, there are markings interpreted as intended for a calendar scale. Faint numerical engravings are visible along the inner section of the divisions, specifically indicating values from 6 to 12. These markings, like the hour lines, lack depth, supporting the assessment that the engraving may have been left in a sketched state.
- Provenance and Documentation
- The object is held in the collection of the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, under the inventory number 44178. The documentation notes that the item was previously assigned the accession number 93-01, a record that remains visible as a stencil on the surface of the instrument. The history of the object includes conflicting interpretations regarding its state of finish. While it is categorized as a scientific instrument, its current condition renders it useless for its original purpose. Records associate the quadrant with English production around 1400.
- Physical Configuration and Construction
- The instrument is a copper quadrant with a radius measuring 79 millimeters. It possesses two hole sights affixed to its perimeter to facilitate sighting. A singular, small perforation serves as the center point for various geometric engravings, including a series of concentric circles on the reverse side that are tangent to the edges of the plate. The primary face of the quadrant is dominated by evidence of its production state, which consists largely of preliminary sketched outlines rather than finished, deep incisions. A suspension ring is located near the apex of the plate, intended to hold a plumb-bob for vertical alignment. The piece currently exhibits a notable dent near one of its edges, impacting the uniformity of the periphery.
Identification
- Accession Number
- 44178
- 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: Uncertain whether the faint engravings are due to corrosion or original incompleteness
- Research required: Function of specific divisions is speculative, possibly intended for a calendar scale