Arkivism
Measuring instrument, possibly for taking bearings, consisting of a round wooden disc with a rotating pointer on a lead axle
Public domain

Measuring instrument, possibly for taking bearings, consisting of a round wooden disc with a rotating pointer on a lead axle

anonymous · c. 1590 - c. 1596 · casting; cutting; scoring; lead (metal); wood (plant material)

From the collection of Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.

About this work

Measuring instrument (compass) consisting of a round wooden disc with a rotating pointer on a lead axle. On the top and bottom, a division into compass points is scratched, the main points and intercardinal points are indicated with a star-shaped figure. This was possibly an instrument for measuring courses on a sea chart or making a sketch of the route followed and mapping a sea area. It could also have been a compass corrector, for finding the angle between true and magnetic compass direction. The pointer is broken.

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam’s own description
Subjects
measuring instrumentWillem Barendsz.Jacob van HeemskerckNova ZemblaBehouden Huys
Credit lineMeetinstrument, wellicht voor het opmeten van koersen, bestaande uit een ronde houten schijf voorzien van een draaiende wijzer op een loden as. c. 1590 - c. 1596. anonymous. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Public domain.
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