Japanese Protractor, 1876 World's Fair

Description:

This brass circular protractor is divided by single degrees and marked every thirty degrees in the clockwise direction with Japanese characters facing outwards and representing the Chinese zodiac: mouse, cow, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, chicken, dog, and boar. Four arms extend toward the center of the protractor and meet around an open circle 3 cm. in diameter. The circle is open, except for a protrusion containing a pinhole at the origin point.

The Japanese Empire Department of Education assembled an extensive exhibit of books, reports, examinations, maps, photographs, paintings, classroom equipment, medical apparatus, and drawing instruments for the 1876 World's Fair, the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. Five types of protractors were included in the display, two of which survive in the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.

See also ID Number MA.261305.

Date Made: 1876

Location: Currently not on view

Place Made: Japan

Subject: MathematicsProtractorExpositions and Fairs

Subject:

See more items in: Medicine and Science: Mathematics, Science & Mathematics, Protractors

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: Transfer from the Bureau of Education, Department of the Interior

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: MA.261306Accession Number: 51116Catalog Number: 261306

Object Name: protractor

Physical Description: brass (overall material)Measurements: overall: .2 cm x 10.8 cm x 10.8 cm; 3/32 in x 4 1/4 in x 4 1/4 in

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a7-50fa-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_904445

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