Object Number 1961.1689

Object Name

Compass and sundial (Portable compass and sundial)

Category

Clocks, Watches, and Scientific Instruments

Credit Line/Donor

Gift of Henry Francis du Pont

Creator (Role)

Christian Teets (Probable maker)

Place of Origin

Washington, Pennsylvania, Mid-Atlantic, United States, North America

Date

1796-1810

Mark or Signature or Inscription or Label

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.

Materials

Mahogany; Brass; Glass; Iron

Techniques

Engraved

Dimensions (inches)

1.024 (H) , 3.858 (L) , 2.323 (W)

Dimensions (centimeters)

2.6 (H) , 9.8 (L) , 5.9 (W)

Object Description

Web - 10/21/2013

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.

Bibliography and Bibliographic Notes

[Book] Fennimore, Donald L. 1996 Metalwork in Early America: Copper and Its Alloys from the Winterthur Collection.
• Published: cat.190, p.293