Magnetic compass and sundial by Henry Sutton

Made:
1650-1665 in Europe
maker:
H. Sutton
and
Henry Sutton
Folding pocket sundial and compass in boxwood case with string Folding pocket sundial and compass in boxwood case with string Folding pocket sundial and compass in boxwood case with string Folding pocket sundial and compass in boxwood case with string Folding pocket sundial and compass in boxwood case with string Compass in case Sutton, H. Compass in boxwood case, by Hy

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Folding pocket sundial and compass in boxwood case with string
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Folding pocket sundial and compass in boxwood case with string
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Folding pocket sundial and compass in boxwood case with string
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Folding pocket sundial and compass in boxwood case with string
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Folding pocket sundial and compass in boxwood case with string
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Compass in case Sutton, H. Compass in boxwood case, by Hy
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Folding pocket compass and sundial in boxwood case made by Henry Sutton, Threadneedle Street, London, 1650-1665.

Portable compasses and sundials were simple tools that were useful for navigation on land, river and at sea (to a limited extent). Compass needles needed to be re-magnetised occasionally by rubbing against a lodestone. Henry Sutton, the maker of this instrument, was a leading mathematical instrument maker in London. He died in the plague of 1665 and his loss was lamented by the Royal Society.

Details

Category:
Navigation
Object Number:
1928-942
Materials:
wood (unidentified), brass (copper, zinc alloy), glass, cotton (fibre), paper (fibre product) and ink
Measurements:
overall: 24 mm x 131 mm x 129 mm, .285kg
type:
magnetic compass and sundial
credit:
Court, Thomas Henry