Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 21

Brass nautical magnetic compass, signed Sestrel London circa 1870

About the Item

Brass nautical magnetic compass, signed Sestrel London from the second half of the 19th century and housed in its original wooden box with slot lid, fitted with pins and handle brass for wall mounting. Box size cm 16x16x11 - inches 6.3x6.3x4.4. The compass consists of a cylindrical-shaped brass vessel called a mortar, on which fund is fixed a hard metal stem, called the sensing element, on which the suitably constrained wind rose is placed so that zero coincides with the magnetic polarity. Sestrel is a registered trademark of Henry Browne & Son, which was an important English firm producing high quality compasses, inclinometers, sextants, etc. founded in the second half of the 19th century. The brand is a name that results from the initials of the qualities that the brand itself embodies: SEnsitive -STeady - RELiable. Indeed, Sestrel is a name synonymous with quality and precision, as evidenced by the number of instruments with that mark, vintage and ancient, still in use today. The earliest hints of the use in Europe of instruments that harnessed magnetic force for navigational orientation date back to the late 12th century, mainly due to the knowledge brought by Arab merchants and navigators: we find hints of this in Alexander Neckam's work "De nominibus utensilium" and in the works of Guyot de Provins in which the magnet is referred to as the "sailor's companion." The inventory of a 13th-century Sicilian ship, the San Nicolo, also mentions the presence of a magnet and a "ligno compass" on board.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 4.4 in (11.18 cm)Width: 6.3 in (16.01 cm)Depth: 6.3 in (16.01 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1870
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    Milan, IT
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1020238877772
More From This SellerView All
  • Nautical magnetic compass, signed by Henry Browne & Son Ltd Sestrel 1942.
    Located in Milan, IT
    Nautical magnetic compass, signed by Henry Browne & Son Ltd Sestrel 1942, Barking & London 1942. Good condition, slight abrasion on compass rose. The compass is mounted on eboni...
    Category

    Vintage 1940s Nautical Objects

    Materials

    Brass

  • Nautical survey magnetic compass signed Elliott Bros London late 1800s
    Located in Milan, IT
    Rare magnetic nautical surveying compass, brass, late 19th century signed Elliott Bros London complete with leather case. This is a small compass, 7 cm diameter, typically used in re...
    Category

    Antique Late 19th Century Nautical Objects

    Materials

    Brass

  • Nautical magnetic compass, signed Henry Browne & Son Ltd Barking & London 1880
    Located in Milan, IT
    Nautical magnetic compass, signed Henry Browne & Son Ltd Barking & London Sestrel Mark from the second half of the 19th century. Bon état. Housed in its original wooden box and mou...
    Category

    Antique 1870s Nautical Objects

    Materials

    Brass

  • Large signed brass nautical magnetic compass KELVIN HUGHES DIVISION 1940
    Located in Milan, IT
    Large brass and glass nautical magnetic compass, signed KELVIN HUGHES DIVISION S. Smith & Son (England) Ltd Manufactured in Great Britain circa 1940, mounted on custom-made wood an...
    Category

    Vintage 1940s Nautical Objects

    Materials

    Brass

  • American Mahogany Wood Antique Magnetic Binnacle Nautical Compass, circa 1896
    Located in Milan, IT
    Rare mahogany wood binnacle compass. Inside there is a liquid compass mounted on a universal joint signed D. Baker Melrose Mass Pat. 22 Sept 1896 and marketed by the Chas Company. C....
    Category

    Antique 1890s American Scientific Instruments

    Materials

    Brass

  • Large English nautical magnetic compass in brass and glass early 1900s
    Located in Milan, IT
    Large brass and glass nautical magnetic compass from the early 1900s, mounted on custom-made oak and brass board. Compass diameter cm 24.5 - inch 9.4, height with base cm 21 - inch 8...
    Category

    Antique Early 1900s Nautical Objects

    Materials

    Brass

You May Also Like
  • T. Cooke London Brass Prismatic Nautical Maritime Navigation Compass
    By T. Cooke & Sons Ltd.
    Located in Dayton, OH
    Vintage T. Cooke of London prismatic compass. Brass case with pierced sight line in the lid, folding prism, metallic gold tone face, and short stand able to be screwed onto a tripod ...
    Category

    Mid-20th Century Nautical Objects

    Materials

    Brass

  • T. Cooke London Brass Prismatic Nautical Navigation Compass with Stand
    By T. Cooke & Sons Ltd.
    Located in Dayton, OH
    Vintage T. Cooke of London England prismatic compass. Brass case with mirrored lid interior, folding prism, metallic brass face, and short stand able to be screwed onto a tripod for ...
    Category

    Mid-20th Century Nautical Objects

    Materials

    Brass

  • Vintage, Handheld Bearing Compass, English, Oak, Maritime, Navigation, Sestrel
    Located in Hele, Devon, GB
    This is a vintage hand-held bearing compass. An English, oak, marine navigation aid with Sestrel dial, dating to the mid-20th century, circa 1950. A fascinating maritime set Displays a desirable aged patina Oak handle and walnut deck box...
    Category

    Mid-20th Century English Nautical Objects

    Materials

    Oak

  • Antique English Mahogany & Brass Nautical Telescope, London, circa 1850
    Located in Pearland, TX
    A superb large antique English mahogany and brass nautical maritime telescope or spyglass, London, circa 1850. Inscribed "G. Bracher, London, Day or...
    Category

    Antique Mid-19th Century English Nautical Objects

    Materials

    Brass

  • English Brass and Wood Barrel Nautical Spyglass James Chapman, London Circa 1850
    Located in Hollywood, SC
    English brass and wood barrel nautical ship captain's spyglass with a single draw, polished sunshade, lense cap, and engraved focal tube by maker James Chapman St. Catherines Dock, L...
    Category

    Antique 1850s English William IV Scientific Instruments

    Materials

    Brass

  • Maitland Smith Brass Nautical Maritime Binnacle Ship Compass Gimbal Oil Lamp 14"
    By Maitland Smith
    Located in Dayton, OH
    Vintage Maitland Smith reclaimed brass nautical / maritime binnacle gimbal ship's compass with double oil lamps. Dimensions: 13.5" x 10" x 10" (Width x Depth x Height)
    Category

    Late 20th Century British Colonial Nautical Objects

    Materials

    Brass

Recently Viewed

View All