Brass universal solar quadrant

Solar quadrant, unknown, 18th century

Llegir més

Num. inventory: 14716

Object name: solar quadrant

Object date: 18th century

Author: unknown

Technique and material: wood, metal, engraving on paper, glass.

Navigational instruments

Octagonal universal solar quadrant made in the 18^th century. It also serves as a compass and sundial. It has a collapsible piece with latitude marks, and a circular dial with a collapsible style. The engraved floral decoration and roman numerals are especially notable. It has a compass in the middle, and below that are inscriptions with the latitudes of cities in Spain like Cadiz, Seville, Cartagena, Valencia, Madrid or Barcelona. Quadrants were not exclusively maritime instruments, but were useful to any travellers at the time.