ANTICO SESTANTE, ITALIA FINE XIX SECOLO Lot n° 375

Brass body complete with box and accessories, signed 'La Filotecnica Milano'. H cm 14, W cm 22, D cm 22. Oxidation, parts to be fixed. AN ANTIQUE SEXTANT, ITALY LATE 19th CENTURY The sextant è an instrument for angular measurements whose name derives from having a graduated scale the width of one-sixth of a circumference (60°). The sextant is considered the instrument par excellence used for astronomical navigation, i.e., for determining the position of a ship at sea, however, the evolution of instruments intended for this purpose, from the moreù or less rudimentary crossbows to the octant (graduated arc of 1/8th circumference) and the reflecting circle is a very complex chapter. It was introduced and became definitively established at the end of the 18th century. In general sextants could be used freehand as on a ship where immovable supports are lacking, but it can also be used for land measurements, and in this case it was mounted on a support. In addition, for measurements of star heights in field operations, lacking the reference of the sea horizon, an artificial horizon is used.