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Butterfield dial
Butterfield dial for latitudes 40°-60° North. Standard three-scale dial (see related terms) except for the following details:-
The compass has cardinal points marked and named by French initials and it is offset 7° West of North to allow for magnetic variation. The reverse side of the dial-plate is filled with a table of latitudes in two columns, comprising places such as: 'Vienne 49', 'Calais 51' and 'Dijon 47'. The dial has a black leather octagonal case with green velvet lining and a push-button clasp.
A typical Butterfield dial, this instrument is signed 'CHAPOTOT A PARIS' and engraved with the same list of towns that appear on AST0297. Perhaps this was a standard set of places used by Chapotot on his dials. A very similar dial is in the National Technical Museum, Prague.
For more information regarding this dial please refer to the OUP & NMM catalogue, 'Sundials at Greenwich'.
The compass has cardinal points marked and named by French initials and it is offset 7° West of North to allow for magnetic variation. The reverse side of the dial-plate is filled with a table of latitudes in two columns, comprising places such as: 'Vienne 49', 'Calais 51' and 'Dijon 47'. The dial has a black leather octagonal case with green velvet lining and a push-button clasp.
A typical Butterfield dial, this instrument is signed 'CHAPOTOT A PARIS' and engraved with the same list of towns that appear on AST0297. Perhaps this was a standard set of places used by Chapotot on his dials. A very similar dial is in the National Technical Museum, Prague.
For more information regarding this dial please refer to the OUP & NMM catalogue, 'Sundials at Greenwich'.
For more information about using images from our Collection, please contact RMG Images.
Object Details
| ID: | AST0317 |
|---|---|
| Collection: | Astronomical and navigational instruments |
| Type: | Butterfield dial |
| Display location: | Display - ROG |
| Creator: | Chapotot |
| Date made: | Late 17th century |
| Credit: | National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Caird Collection |
| Measurements: | Overall: 8 x 55 x 64 mm |
| Parts: | Butterfield dial |