Museo Galileo
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Virtual Museum
Gunner's sight and level
    • Setting:
      Room VI
    • Maker:
      unknown
    • Place:
      German?
    • Date:
      16th cent.
    • Materials:
      brass, silver
    • Dimensions:
      height 70 mm
    • Inventory:
      2531
    • Gunner's sight and level (Inv. 2531)

Gunner's level consisting of two thin parallel silver plates fastened to a curved brass base. In the slit between the strips runs a cursor with an index. The base is mobile. The instrument, which had a plumb bob, was used to aim guns by placing the base on the cannon breech. A comparison with similar but more elaborate instruments carrying engraved decorations suggests this specimen may have been used in battle. Provenance: Medici collections.