Napier's bones

Description

Set of Napier's bones in boxwood, a device for performing arithmetic, particularly multiplication, invented by John Napier of Merchiston, Edinburgh, who also developed logarithms, 18th century

Museum reference

T.1866.57

Collection

History of Science

Object name

Napier's bones

Date

18th century

Materials

Boxwood

Physical description

Boxwood

Associations

Inventor: Napier, John, 1550 - 1617

Exhibitions

• Treasured: Wonderful Things, Amazing Stories (14 Nov 2008 - 01 Jan 2011)
  National Museum of Scotland

Links to other web pages

Collection Story