Sextant

Sextant

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Description
This sextant, which probably dates from the third quarter of the 19th century, has a brass frame. The inscription on the arc reads "J. & A. Molteni à Paris." The silvered scale is graduated every 10 minutes from -5° to +168° and read by vernier with tangent screw and magnifier to 10 seconds of arc. The Molteni family was in business in Paris from 1782 to about 1900, making a wide variety of mathematical instruments.
Location
Currently not on view
Object Name
sextant
date made
19th century
maker
J. & A. Molteni
place made
France: Île-de-France, Paris
Physical Description
mahogany (overall material)
brass (overall material)
silver (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 9 3/4 in x 11 in x 4 in; 24.765 cm x 27.94 cm x 10.16 cm
overall in case: 4 3/4 in x 10 3/8 in x 10 3/8 in; 12.065 cm x 26.3525 cm x 26.3525 cm
ID Number
PH.328486
catalog number
328486
accession number
271661
Credit Line
Weston College
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Data Source
National Museum of American History
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