Museo Galileo
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Virtual Museum
Single-handed dividers
    • Setting:
      Room V
    • Maker:
      unknown
    • Date:
      17th cent.
    • Materials:
      brass
    • Dimensions:
      length 120 mm
    • Inventory:
      1479
    • Single-handed dividers (Inv. 1479)

Single-handed dividers. The legs of the instrument comprise a semi-circular section and a straight section tapered to a point. The dividers could be opened with a single hand by applying finger pressure to the curved section. Used in navigation to plot routes on sea charts. This type of instrument is depicted on the frame of Galileo's objective lens. Provenance: Medici collections.