The Richard II brass horary quadrant (reverse). Photo: Bonhams.
Posted on 11/19/2011 2:39:54 AM PST by SunkenCiv
This quadrant is the earliest of a similar group of three other quadrants dated 1398, 1399 and circa 1400 respectively... Like the others, it is noteworthy for showing equal hours, in which the entire period from midnight to midnight is divided into twenty four equal parts. This technique had developed slowly during the 14th century. Indeed one of the earliest examples in England of an administrative record using equal hours occurs on the occasion of Richard II's abdication on 30 September 1399 stated to have been 'at about the ninth stroke of the clock'. On its reverse, the quadrant features a badge depicting a stag lying down wearing a coronet around its throat, which is associated with Richard II. The National Gallery's famous altarpiece, The Wilton Diptych, portrays Richard II wearing a cape embroidered with an identical badge.
The quadrant is believed to have been discovered by an ancestor of the present owner in the mid 1800s in Northern England before its emigration to New Zealand and Australia. In the mid 1970s, its owner, Christopher Becker, as a child, re-discovered it in a bag of old pipe fittings in a shed on a family farm in Queensland, where it is thought to have been for 20 years. Becker's father took it to the Museum of Queensland, who identified it as an astrolabe, and, from this time, it has remained in his personal collection.
In 2010, still vying to satisfy his curiosity, Becker came across an article on the internet by Silke Ackermann and John Cherry entitled 'Richard II, John Holland and Three Medieval Quadrants.' Recognising similarities between his quadrant and the three described, he contacted the British Museum, and the process of identification began.
(Excerpt) Read more at artdaily.com ...
The Richard II brass horary quadrant (reverse). Photo: Bonhams.
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| GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother & Ernest_at_the_Beach | |
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This would have made more sense for Richard III, in case he wanted to find out if it was winter yet. |
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Where does the battery go?
Now that’s cool. I’d hate to carry it in my pocket though.
It doesn’t have a battery silly, you have to plug it in to charge it!
Solar powered. Very green technology. Does not need 3G, 4G or Wifi.
Cool, but I’ll bet it’s kind of awkward to wear on your wrist.
The Current FReepathon Pays For The Current Quarters Expenses?
If you take a magnifying glass, you can see what looks like the word Solyndra at the bottom. And some sort of odd red, white, and blue symbol in the shape of a large O. What could that mean?
John Bonham always kept good time.
Long ago was supposed to mean not as technologically advanced, but I’ll tell you what...I couldn’t invent that thing!
:’)
;’)
Thanks, Civ
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