Chinese compass. A small rectangular wooden box with two rows of notches along its length on the top side. There is also a circular cavity with a pin in the centre on which the needle would have been. The cavity and notches have Chinese characters around them. There is a panel of wood with concentric rings and characters on it which slides out from the underside of the box; it has feet allowing it to stand in the notches.

ABDNP:200113a

Portable dial combines a compass whose needle is now missing, equinoctial sundial of traditional Chinese design (unseen in base), and a noon dial for telling the time of year. The equinoctial dial has shaped feet cut into to give it the correct inclination for a latitude of 33 degrees. At noon the main body of the dial was orientated North-South and the baseplate stood on end so that its shadow fell onto the marked area seen in the photograph (see Newsletter). This area is labelled with the 24 seasonal periods that divide the Chinese year. An epigram on the front translates roughly as 'the key to nature is inside your sleeve'.

1812-1842

Physical Object

The piece, signed in Chinese by Fang Hsiu Shui, was either the one purchased by Knight or may have been brought to Aberdeen by Copland's son Charles, who went to China as officer of a trading ship on several years around 1812.