Magnificent octagonal brass sundial signed... - Lot 276 - Ader

Lot 276
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Estimation :
800 - 1000 EUR
Result with fees
Result : 2 176EUR
Magnificent octagonal brass sundial signed... - Lot 276 - Ader
Magnificent octagonal brass sundial signed Langlois in Paris at the Galleries du Louvre. Dated between 1735 and 1756, this sundial has the particularity to be octagonal with 34 cities in Europe (Paris, Antwerp, London, Madrid, Lion, Vienna, Rome, ..., Berlin, and Constantinople) and in the Americas (Kebec and La Martinique). Some cities are very original on a sundial of this type like La Martinique, Kebec or Berlin. We can imagine that this sundial was used for the crossing between France and its American colonies. The hour dial, adjustable in inclination, has two reading scales in Arabic and Roman numerals. The latitude is given by an arc going from 0 to 70 degrees. The gnomon can be tilted to be always perpendicular to the compass. The compass has a dry tank with a blued steel point, and has 16 directions and 180 degrees divided into four sections from 0 to 90 degrees. On the north side is engraved a fleur de lys. The case is in chagrin closed by two hooks and a button. The interior is in purple velvet in the shape of the device. The case needs to be restored. Middle of the 18th century. 8 x 8 cm for the dial and 9 x 9 cm for the case Claude Langlois (1703-1756) was an engineer of the King for mathematics. From 1728 to 1735 he settled in Quai de l'horloge, then moved to the Galleries du Louvre in 1735. He was considered as one of the best builders of his time, supplier of the Observatory, and creator of the meridian of Saint Sulpice in 1744. He built all the octants and quarter circles of the expeditions of La Condamine, of the Abbé de La Caille, of Maupertuis, ...
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