Plain compass (Surveying compass)

  • Category:

    Clocks, Watches, and Scientific Instruments

  • Creator (Role):

    Benjamin Rittenhouse (Maker)

    William Lukens Potts (Maker)

  • Place of Origin:

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

  • Date:

    1796-1798

  • Materials:

    Brass; Wood; Glass

  • Museum Object Number:

    1957.0646 A


  • Complete Details



Object Number

1957.0646 A

Object Name

Plain compass (Surveying compass)

Category

Clocks, Watches, and Scientific Instruments

Credit Line/Donor

Bequest of Henry Francis du Pont

Creator (Role)

Benjamin Rittenhouse (Maker)
1740-1825

William Lukens Potts (Maker)
1771-1854

Place of Origin

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

Date

1796-1798

Mark or Signature or Inscription or Label

1. Signature; Compass plate, center; "RITTENHOUSE and POTTS" engraved
2. Inscription; Compass plate, surface; "CB Jacob / Chester County, Pa." engraved.

Materials

Brass; Wood; Glass

Dimensions (inches)

7.874 (H) , 14.016 (L) , 6.26 (Diam)

Dimensions (centimeters)

20 (H) , 35.6 (L) , 15.9 (Diam)

Object Description

Text available soon.

Bibliography and Bibliographic Notes

[Book] Fennimore, Donald L. 1996 Metalwork in Early America: Copper and Its Alloys from the Winterthur Collection.
Published: cat.186, p.289
[Book] Fennimore, Donald L. & Hohmann, Frank L. 2023 David Rittenhouse Philosopher-Mechanick of Colonial Philadelphia and His Famous Clocks.
Biography: pp. 73-81. Pub: p. 77, fig. 3.7