The instrument consists of a gilt brass octagonal box with a fixed suspension ring and a hinged lid.The outside of the lid carries a circular miniature enamel painting of a young couple, with a glass cover. The inside of the cover shows an engraved hare.
The dial plate and compass bowl in the main box are of ivory with the numbers of the hour scale 5 to 12 to 7 in red. The dial is for about 48? latitude. The compass bowl is 19 mm in diameter, is marked for variation and also carries the crown punch-mark of Paul Reinmann.
The sides of the main box are decorated with roundels and stylised sheaves and its base has an engraving of a cock crowing.
Provenance: Michel Collection; Billmeir Collection (57-84/55)
Stephen Johnston