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FS32: Two Day Fine Art Sale

John Bird, London, A Fine 18th Century Bronze Sundial

Auction Lot FS32/759

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.

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.

Price Realised

£2,300

Department

Collectables and Toys

Fine Art Category

Engineering and Scientific

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.

Please note that we are unable to provide a wrapping, packing and despatch service ourselves, but we have negotiated preferential rates with Mailbox Etc.

Legal Notice

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