HAND CARVED FOLDING SQUARE / LEVEL / RULE
Stock Number: 7284
$495.
Rare example of a folding wooden multifunction tool, probably from Burgundy c. 1700.
Dimensions
6-3/8 inch (16 cm) legs
Circa
c. late 17th / early 18th c.
Country of manufacture
France
Description
HAND CARVED FOLDING SQUARE / LEVEL / RULE, French, late 17th / early 18th c. This wooden “square” has hinged 6-3/8″ (16 cm) legs, one pierced and notched for plumb bob and string. The legs are boldly cut with scales of Rhine inches (“Pouces du Rhin”), and of Kings inches (“Pouces de Roy”) from 0 to 6 with subdivisions to twelfths, and with two further linear scales running 0 – 70 and 0 – 80 respectively. Condition is good noting slight wobble to the hinge. One leg is engraved “A autun,” perhaps a clue to its maker, the city of Autun lying on the Saône-et-Loire in Burgundy. The first wooden example of this instrument we have seen.
Ask the Dealer
Dealer information
TESSERACT
David and Yola Coffeen both have enjoyed academic careers, as planetary astronomer and as linguist/educator. But since 1982 (yes, 1982!) they have been full-time dealers in early scientific and medical instruments, under the name Tesseract. Selling primarily by catalogue (over 100 issued so far) they also have a web presence at www.etesseract.com, and can be contacted at [email protected].
