Rare 18th-Century French Brass Pocket Travel Sundial - 3½"

This petite French pocket sundial and compass, crafted in warm brass in the 18th century and gracefully signed Bernier, Paris, embodies both charm and scientific finesse. Its octagonal plate is beautifully engraved with crisp Roman and Arabic hour scales, delicate foliate flourishes, and a neatly inset magnetic compass shimmering beneath protective glass. The articulated folding gnomon is adorned with a charming little bird style, while the reverse displays an intricately engraved table of European cities and their corresponding latitudes. The instrument nestles in its original, shapely leather travel case, lined with soft crimson velvet that still evokes the quiet luxury of its era. The overall condition remains appealingly timeworn: the brass carries a mellow, inviting patina with gentle surface marks and subtle edge rubbing, while the leather case shows its age with scuffing, frayed edges, and wear to the lining.

A quintessential Parisian pocket sundial of the Butterfield type, this refined instrument reflects a tradition born from the ingenuity of the English maker Michael Butterfield, who worked in Paris in the late 17th century. Parisian ateliers continued to produce these elegant and precise dials throughout the 18th century, valuing them as practical companions for travelers and as graceful precursors to the pocket watch. The bird-shaped gnomon, a hallmark of the genre, playfully crowns the design, while the engraved city table and integrated compass allowed users to set the gnomon’s angle and orient the dial with confidence during the Grand Tour and other ambitious voyages.

Display it on a campaign desk, library table, or in a cabinet of curiosities alongside antique maps and a globe to underscore its travel theme. It presents beautifully under a glass dome on a console, or as a refined accent on a bookshelf where the warm brass and script engraving add quiet character. An appealing piece for those who pursue horological or scientific instruments, it embodies the refined ingenuity and intellectual curiosity of its age.