Silver Pocket Sundial
Silver pocket sundial crafted by Nicolas Bion (1652–1733), an engineer to the King under Louis XIV and one of the greatest makers of scientific instruments of his time. Based in Paris on the Quai de l’Horloge, Nicolas Bion gained European renown for the precision of his mathematical, astronomical, and navigational instruments. His famous *Treatise on the Construction and Principal Uses of Mathematical Instruments*, published in 1709, long served as an authoritative work and helped spread his expertise. Nicolas Bion’s instruments are now preserved in major public collections, notably at the Musée des Arts et Métiers in Paris, the British Museum, and the Louvre. This pocket sundial, equipped with a compass and a folding gnomon, is a remarkable testament to Parisian scientific production in the first third of the 18th century.
Period: 17th century
Style: Louis 14th, Regency
Condition: Fully restored
Material: Sterling silver
Width: 6
Height: 7
Reference (ID): 1794317
Availability: In stock
