Octant marine navigation blackened wood gilded brass measurement eighteenth century
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Wood naval Octant blackened and gilded brass plates with bones (beef), vintage late eighteenth century. From Morbihan.
This octant is in good condition.
A note: missing a bone plate on the middle part, accident and lack of bottom right plate, lack bezel right side and would be others left side mirrors, small slits on wood, wear time , see photos.
is an ancient navigational instrument used at sea to take stock. Davis successor neighborhood and predecessor of the sextant, it is a reflection instrument (in) which measures a star high above the horizon. Its name comes from the Latin meaning Octans "eighth part of a whole; 45 ° arc. " Its angular aperture is actually 45 °, but it enables, by its geometry, to measure a height of up to 90 ° luminary.