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Section of Room V
 Robert Dudley’s Instruments

With the experience acquired in years of navigation, the English Admiral Sir Robert Dudley (1573-1649) assumed a leading role in the promotion of Medicean nautical activity, supervising Leghorn's port fortifications, naval constructions, and everything pertinent to navigation - from map-making to instrumentation, from definition of oceanic routes to military techniques. His collection of nautical instruments, many of his own design, was an important resource for the Medicean fleet.

Objects
Astrolabe

Astrolabe

Inv. 1123, 1124, 1127
Charles Whitwell [attr.], English, late 16th cent.

Astrolabe

Astrolabe

Inv. 1095
Charles Whitwell, English, 1595

Dell'arcano del mare, Robert Dudley (facsimile)

Dell'arcano del mare, Robert Dudley (facsimile)

Firenze, Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale, Magl. 5._.270
Robert Dudley, Florence, original 1646 / facsimile 2008

Folding rule

Folding rule

Inv. 2516
James Kynvyn, London, 1595

Horary quadrant

Horary quadrant

Inv. 2519
Charles Whitwell, English, 1595

Mariner's astrolabe

Mariner's astrolabe

Inv. 1119
Francisco de Goes, Portuguese, 1608

Nautical circle

Nautical circle

Inv. 1116
Charles Whitwell, English, late 16th cent.

Nautical compass

Nautical compass

Inv. 599
Maker unknown, English, late 16th cent.

Nautical compass

Nautical compass

Inv. 600
Maker unknown, English, late 16th cent.

Nautical instrument

Nautical instrument

Inv. 3174
James Kynvyn, London, 1597

Nocturnal

Nocturnal

Inv. 2500
Maker unknown, English, 16th cent.

Plate for nautical use

Plate for nautical use

Inv. 663
James Kynvyn, English, 1595

Protractor

Protractor

Inv. 613
Maker unknown, English, late 16th cent.

Quadrant

Quadrant

Inv. 242, 3362
James Kynvyn [attr.], English, 1595 (?)

Quadrant

Quadrant

Inv. 2509
Thomas Gemini, English, mid-16th cent.

Quadrant

Quadrant

Inv. 3365
Maker unknown, English, 1597

Surveying compass

Surveying compass

Inv. 2527
Humphrey Cole, London, 1575

Theodolite

Theodolite

Inv. 240
Augustine Ryther, English, 1590

Theodolite

Theodolite

Inv. 2528
Maker unknown, English, late 16th cent.

Windrose

Windrose

Inv. 3372
Maker unknown, English, 1596