Museo Galileo
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Virtual Museum
Geometric and military compass
    • Setting:
      Room VI
    • Maker:
      Giovanni Maccari
    • Place:
      Italian
    • Date:
      1676
    • Materials:
      brass
    • Dimensions:
      length 247 mm
    • Inventory:
      3540
    • Geometric and military compass (Inv. 3540)
    • Geometric and military compass (Inv. 3540)

Finely engraved proportional compasses based on the model devised by Galileo (inv. 2430). The legs have various measurement scales: arithmetical scale, geometrical scale, stereometric scale, and metal scale. The instrument is designed to accommodate a quadrant arc (now missing) with a degree scale, a shadow square, and a scale of slopes. Signed by Giovanni Maccari, who also made item inv. 3567.