Butterfield à Paris, 66 x 78 mm, circa 1690

A very fine equatorial sun dial with original box
Case: silver, hand engraved octagonal dial-plate, fine engraved gnomon is hinged and folds flat, dial-plate with set compass, the scale is drawn for a latidude of 43°,on the reverse side of the ground plate are engraved the geographical declinations from several French and other European towns. Dial: concentric retrograde Roman hour scale.

The Butterfield dial is a type of semi-universal horizontal dial, which was first produced in the second half of the 17th century. It owes its name to the British-born instrument maker, Michael Butterfield, who spent his working life in Paris.