Live Auction 2827The Decorative Arts Sale
A SOUTH GERMAN ENGRAVED BRASS SUSPENSION MINING COMPASS
Lot 171

A SOUTH GERMAN ENGRAVED BRASS SUSPENSION MINING COMPASS

BY ANDREAS WOLF, MUNCHEN, SECOND HALF 18TH CENTURY

Closed23 September 2009

Price Realised

EUR 27,400

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A SOUTH GERMAN ENGRAVED BRASS SUSPENSION MINING COMPASS
BY ANDREAS WOLF, MUNCHEN, SECOND HALF 18TH CENTURY
The compass with silvered ring, steel needle, star-engraved centre inscribed SE, ME, OR an OC for the four continents, in a gimbal fitting hanging in a compass ring with graduated scale and suspension hooks, the rectangular table with baluster pillars and engraved top with graduated scale and two folding sights, signed ANDREAS WOLF
The compass 73 mm. diameter, the compass-ring 97 mm. diameter
The table 16.5 x 9.5 cm., 7.5 cm. high over sights
Together with a fitted storage box made from a leather bound book

Specialist note

The suspension compass was one the most important tools for the mine surveyor since the mid 17th Century. The gimballed compass is suspended on a wire allowing the compass to be in a horizontal position in any angle of inclination.

A similar mining compass by Andreas Wolf is in the collection of the Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Nuremberg, inventory-number W.J. 845. A drawing of this compass is illustrated in 'Mitteilungen aus dem Germanischen Nationalmuseum', 1886, fig. 22, p. 61.