Clocks, Watches, and Scientific Instruments
Christian Teets (Probable maker)
Washington, Pennsylvania, Mid-Atlantic, United States, North America
1796-1810
Mahogany; Brass; Glass; Iron
Engraved
1961.1689
Object Number1961.1689 |
Compass and sundial (Portable compass and sundial)
Clocks, Watches, and Scientific Instruments
Gift of Henry Francis du Pont
Christian Teets (Probable maker)
Washington, Pennsylvania, Mid-Atlantic, United States, North America
1796-1810
1. Inscription; Box, lid; Mark How/ Time Passeth/ Samuel S. Ralston/ L T/ Christian Teets" in script.
2. Inscription; Sundial, plate; "L T G S" engraved in script.
Mahogany; Brass; Glass; Iron
Engraved
1.024 (H) , 3.858 (L) , 2.323 (W)
2.6 (H) , 9.8 (L) , 5.9 (W)
This portable pocket compass and sundial have adjoining rectangular wood cases hinged along one side to close as a box. The exterior of the sundial case is inlaid with a large oval engraved sheet brass plate and four small diamonds, one in each corner; the interior is fitted with a circular brass plate engraved for the hours of the day and a folding brass gnomon. The compass case exterior has inlaid brass ornaments depicting an American Federal eagle with outspread wings and a striped shield and a quarter moon with an eye facing the viewer's left; the interior has a recessed compass with a colorless glass cover over an iron needle having an arrow-shaped point mounted over a paper dial with pen divisions noting directional points. The engraved plate on the sundial outer case features a border of rays forming triangles enclosing a six-pointed compass star flanked by the words "Mark How / Time Passeth", the inscription "Samuel S. Ralston" above "L T" in the center, and a basket holding a flower with trailing vines and blossoms at the lower edge flanked by the inscription "Christian Teets." The diamonds are engraved with compass circles and have diagonal lined, rope borders. The sundial plate bears additional inscriptions of the initials L T G S" in script around the gnomon and a heart shape shaded with tight parallel lines. The compass glass plate is held in place with two irregular shape, brass tabs and the cases are joined with two five-knuckle brass hinges. The sundial gnomon is set to a latitude of approximately 40 degrees and 30 minutes. This corresponds to the location of its first owner, Samuel S. Ralston (1758-1851) who was a minister serving the Mingo Creek Presbyterian congregation in Monongahelia, Washington County, Pennsylvania from 1796 until 1851. The maker's name, Christian Teets refers to an instrument maker in Washington County, Pennsylvania whose name might also be spelled Deets or Tietz.
[Book] Fennimore, Donald L. 1996 Metalwork in Early America: Copper and Its Alloys from the Winterthur Collection.
• Published: cat.190, p.293