Rare Japanese Traveling Compass Sundial Magnifier Scaphe Fob Netsuke

This is an extremely rare Edo period traveling compass comprising compass, sundial, magnifier, and Scaphe all in gourd-shaped fob netsuke. Occasionally, a more common orb-type compass-and-sundial combination comes up on the market, however, this gourd-type is rarely seen. There is an identical example in the Museum of History of Science, Lewis Evans collection, Oxford. The top and bottom gourd-shaped panels are beautifully decorated with an exquisite floral arabesque design and each piece of equipment is individually cased in coin-edge cylindrical housing with tudor rose type bezel. This item is made with brass and all the components work: loupe with strong magnification; sundial in good condition; Scaphe seems good; compass accurate (occasionally needs a gentle tap to encourage needle). Size: height 18mm; length 50mm (when closed), 85mm (fully opened); weight 38g.

To ebay page Japanese Compass Sundial

the Museum of History of Science, Oxford Lewis Evans collection