Epact Scientific Instruments of Medieval and Renaissance Europe

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Cross-staff
Signed by Gualterus Arsenius
Dated 1571; Louvain
Wood and gilt brass; 1393 mm in length

A cross-staff has two principal parts: a long graduated rod and a transverse cross piece mounted on the rod. This example is incomplete since it lacks the transverse cross piece. The surviving rod disassembles into two parts.

The signature identifies the maker only as 'the nephew of Gemma Frisius', the Louvain mathematician who wrote a well-known text on the use of the cross-staff.

British Museum, London
Registration no. MLA 1886,6-30.1

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