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Geometrical Square
Unsigned
16th century; Italian
Brass; 220 mm in height

This instrument is made up of a square frame bearing the scale of shadows engraved on two adjacent sides. An alidade with sights is pivoted on the corner opposite the shadow square. Inside the frame is a quadrant of a circle with a degree scale and a diagonal rod. At its centre is a compass with a magnetic needle, against a decorative background.

On the back of the square is a cylindrical leg allowing it to be supported on a wooden foot in such a way that the instrument is maintained in a horizontal position while topographical surveys are being made.

A geometrical square such as this could be used to make topographical surveys and measure heights and depths.

Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza, Firenze
Inventory no. 121

© Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza, Firenze. All rights reserved. Information and images provided here may not be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the museum.

Basic URL: http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/epact/catalogue.php?ENumber=69211

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