A French brass Butterfield pattern portable horizontal compass sundial Nicholas Bion, Paris, early 18th century The elongated octagonal plate with four hour scales for 55, 50, 45 and 40 degrees, the outer 4-12-8 divided into quarter-hours, the next three IIII-XI-I-VIII, 4-12-8 and IIII-XI-I-VIII divided into half hours with wheatear half hour markers for the Roman numeral chapters, the centre with foliate engraved panel within band signed N. Bion, A Paris, with glazed four-point compass and hinged bird engraved adjustable gnomen calibrated in degrees for elevation to the outer edge, the underside engraved with latitudes for twenty cities including Londres, Geneue, Cologne, Milan, Madrit, Metz, Turin and Paris, 7.1cm (2.8ins) long; in original leather case with red velvet lined interior, 8.5 (3.35ins) long overall. Provenance: The beneficiaries of the Estate of an Italian connoisseur collector of horological artefacts and works of art. Nicholas Bion was born in 1652 and is believed to have been active as an instrument maker from around 1680. A trade card pronouncing him as 'Ingenieur du Roi' and listing his address as 'le quay d'Orledge du Palais au quart de Cercle' exists in the collection of the Cluny Museum Paris. In 1709 Bion published TRAITE DE LA CONSTRUCTION ET DES PRINCEPAUX DE USAGE DES INSTRUMENS DE MATHEMATIQUE within which (page 362) he included an engraved image of an instrument almost identical to the current lot. Bion is believed to have worked well into the 18th century and died in 1733. This type of portable pocket sundial was devised by Michael Butterfield, an English Instrument maker who settled in Paris around 1685. By the end of the century Butterfield's workshop was also located on the 'Le Quay de l'Horloge' hence he would have known Nicholas Bion as a neighbour.
A French brass Butterfield pattern portable horizontal compass sundial Nicholas Bion, Paris, early 18th century The elongated octagonal plate with four hour scales for 55, 50, 45 and 40 degrees, the outer 4-12-8 divided into quarter-hours, the next three IIII-XI-I-VIII, 4-12-8 and IIII-XI-I-VIII divided into half hours with wheatear half hour markers for the Roman numeral chapters, the centre with foliate engraved panel within band signed N. Bion, A Paris, with glazed four-point compass and hinged bird engraved adjustable gnomen calibrated in degrees for elevation to the outer edge, the underside engraved with latitudes for twenty cities including Londres, Geneue, Cologne, Milan, Madrit, Metz, Turin and Paris, 7.1cm (2.8ins) long; in original leather case with red velvet lined interior, 8.5 (3.35ins) long overall. Provenance: The beneficiaries of the Estate of an Italian connoisseur collector of horological artefacts and works of art. Nicholas Bion was born in 1652 and is believed to have been active as an instrument maker from around 1680. A trade card pronouncing him as 'Ingenieur du Roi' and listing his address as 'le quay d'Orledge du Palais au quart de Cercle' exists in the collection of the Cluny Museum Paris. In 1709 Bion published TRAITE DE LA CONSTRUCTION ET DES PRINCEPAUX DE USAGE DES INSTRUMENS DE MATHEMATIQUE within which (page 362) he included an engraved image of an instrument almost identical to the current lot. Bion is believed to have worked well into the 18th century and died in 1733. This type of portable pocket sundial was devised by Michael Butterfield, an English Instrument maker who settled in Paris around 1685. By the end of the century Butterfield's workshop was also located on the 'Le Quay de l'Horloge' hence he would have known Nicholas Bion as a neighbour.
.jpg "Quelle: Christie's")
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