Octant

Description

Octant with ebony frame with inlaid ivory scale, and ivory plate inscribed 'Thomas Hellyer 1774 Nairne London', made by Edward Nairne, London, 1774

Museum reference

T.1909.9

Collection

History of Science

Object name

Octant

Production information

Nairne, Edward, 1726 - 1806
London, England, Northern Europe

Date

1774

Materials

Ebony, Ivory, Brass

Physical description

Ebony frame, ivory scale, brass arm, glass

Associations

Previous owner: Hellyer, Thomas, 1774 (fl.)

Exhibitions

• Earth in Space (29 Jul 2011)
  National Museum of Scotland

References

Bennett, J.A.,The Divided Circle: A History of Instruments for Astronomy, Navigation and Surveying, Oxford, 1987, pp 132-4

Clifton, Gloria, Directory of British Scientific Instrument Makers 1550-1851, London, 1995, p. 196