A scarce, high quality, 1¾” diameter gilt brass hand bearing compass having enamelled card dial with hand painted cardinals, intercardinals and false points. Polished flat steel bar needle with jewelled suspension, highly-polished reflector ring, bevelled convex crystal. Gilt brass barrel form case with central rib, short-necked suspension post and Georgian style bow, transit lock button. Contained within its original, dark cerise velvet and silk-lined, moroccan leather-covered case with brass keeper.

The compass remaining in completely original condition, with virtually all its gilding, very slight marks to verso, the crystal near-perfect, the leather case modestly worn with light repairs, retaining a good proportion of original finish. Crisp overall.

This most attractive compass is very unusual, having a typical Georgian bow but with a shorter suspension post. The gilding, tested as gold, may have been applied using the newly invented gold plating technique, but more likely to have been a result of the traditional amalgamation process as the cast brass bow and suspension post bear casting marks which plating would have hidden to a greater degree. Although the carat is not known, the richness of the colour would suggest 18ct gold.

Very much a collector’s piece.

Dimensions: 2″ diameter x ½” deep

Stock No: SI0637

Price: SOLD