Images(3)

Square-Joint Compass

Date1765-1785

Artist/Maker Samuel Ault fl. 1767 - 1781

OriginEngland, Birmingham

MediumIron and steel

DimensionsOverall: L 5 7/8 × W 1/2-7 1/2 × D 9/16 in (15 × 1.3-19 × 1.4cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1991-613

DescriptionSquare-joint compass with two chamferred and tapered legs ending in sharpened steel tips. Bulbous joint bolstered by a "flange and mortise" extension.Label TextSmaller compasses are sometimes referred to as “dividers.” The design of this tool’s joint allows the legs to be set without the need for a wing and screw. In addition to scribing circles and arcs, compasses were used for stepping off proportional measurements.Mark(s)Marked "AULT" on one leg and "SAM" on the other.ProvenancePurchased at David Stanley Auctions, Leicester, England, 28 Sept. 1991, Lot 467.