John Bird, London, A Fine 18th Century Bronze Sundial
Auction Lot
FS32/759
John Bird, London, A Fine 18th Century Bronze Sundial (FS32/759) offered in our Two Day Fine Art Sale starting on 4th October 2016 at our salerooms in Exeter, Devon.
Lot Description
John Bird, London, a fine 18th century bronze sundial the 41.5cm circular engraved scale with outer ring of Roman numerals, before/after the sun ring, calendar ring and compass points, with bronze gnomon, signed John Bird, London, bears Coat of Arms for the Buller family, green verdigris patination overall.
Notes
John Bird [1709-1776] worked in London for Jonathan Sisson but by 1745 had his own business in the Strand and was advised by the eminent clock maker George Graham. Bird was commissioned to make a brass quadrant 8 feet across for the Royal Observatory at Greenwich where it remains to this day .He also supplied the astronomer James Bradley with further instruments of such quality that the commissioners of longitude paid him the huge sum of £500 on condition that he take on a 7-year apprentice and produce in writing on oath a full account of his working methods. This was the origin of his two treatises 'The Method of Dividing Instruments (1767)' and 'The Method of Constructing Mural Quadrants (1768)'.
Provenance
Kingsnympton Park, Devon.
Department
Collectables and Toys
Sale Information
FS32: Two Day Fine Art Sale
Tuesday, 4th October 2016
Wednesday, 5th October 2016
Okehampton Street, Exeter
This lot will be sold after 12:30pm on Wednesday, 5th October 2016 as part of the Works of Art and Clocks section of the sale.
Contact
For more information about this particular auction lot, please contact:-
Okehampton Street, Exeter
Telephone:
+44 (01392) 413100
Important Notes
Weights and measurements are approximate guidelines only, unless otherwise stated
to the contrary.
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