A Gold Compass Sundial by Jacques Etienne Armand
French, pocketwatch-style compass sundial in gold, white enamel compass, eight points and a magnetic variation scale, white enamelled dial plate supported by three gold struts, VI -XII, I- VI divided to 30 minutes, gold gnomon, signed 'Armand Paris', case back appears as amethyst guiloche enamel, but close inspection suggests it is an amethyst glass cover over an engraved gold back. Notes: Armand was apprenticed to Canivet in 1747. His working dates are 1755-1780. We know of only one other instrument by Armand, a near identical dial in the National Maritime museum, in gilt copper rather than solid gold.
French, pocketwatch-style compass sundial in gold, white enamel compass, eight points and a magnetic variation scale, white enamelled dial plate supported by three gold struts, VI -XII, I- VI divided to 30 minutes, gold gnomon, signed 'Armand Paris', case back appears as amethyst guiloche enamel, but close inspection suggests it is an amethyst glass cover over an engraved gold back. Notes: Armand was apprenticed to Canivet in 1747. His working dates are 1755-1780. We know of only one other instrument by Armand, a near identical dial in the National Maritime museum, in gilt copper rather than solid gold.
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