Weights And Measures Collection

Copy of the Imperial Standard Pound C016 / 2048
Copy of the Imperial Standard Pound. Parliamentary Copy number 5 (P.C.5) of the Imperial Standard Pound, dated 1879. The imperial system of weights and measures was established in 1824

Volvelle to show how to find the time, in hours and minutes, in which the Moon reaches one of its aspects
7340909 Volvelle to show how to find the time, in hours and minutes, in which the Moon reaches one of its aspects. The disc is fixed and is read by a wire in the centre

Astrolabe quadrant, 1291-1310 (brass)
8832886 Astrolabe quadrant, 1291-1310 (brass) by French School, (13th-14th century); 15 x 14 cm; Private Collection; (add.info)

Astrolabe quadrant, 1291-1310 (brass)
8832883 Astrolabe quadrant, 1291-1310 (brass) by French School, (13th-14th century); 15 x 14 cm; Private Collection; (add.info)

Rules of the North Star, 16th century (manuscript)
7339147 Rules of the North Star, 16th century (manuscript) by Portuguese School, (16th century); 49x70.5 cm; National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: North Star rules)

Volvelle illustrating the magnitude, start time and duration of eclipses, 1540 (hand-coloured engraving)
7340904 Volvelle illustrating the magnitude, start time and duration of eclipses, 1540 (hand-coloured engraving) by Apianus, Petrus (1495-1552); National Maritime Museum, London

Arctic tern and a wooden sextant found on Axel's Island, Spitsbergen, 20th century (watercolour)
7295533 Arctic tern and a wooden sextant found on Axel's Island, Spitsbergen, 20th century (watercolour) by Wyllie, William Lionel (1851-1931); 25.1x35.3 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

Reading the chronograph at Royal Observatory, Greenwich, 19th century (engraving)
7337545 Reading the chronograph at Royal Observatory, Greenwich, 19th century (engraving) by Unknown Artist, (19th century); 109.5x149.2x5 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

Mechanical equinox dial, for latitude 0-90 degrees, 18th century
MMM5468898 Mechanical equinox dial, for latitude 0-90 degrees, 18th century; National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Mechanical equinox dial, for latitude 0-90 degrees)

Universal equinoxial ring dial, for all latitudes. Brass instrument, c.1715 (brass)
MMM5475137 Universal equinoxial ring dial, for all latitudes. Brass instrument, c.1715 (brass); National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Universal equinoxial ring dial, for all latitudes)

Universal equinoxial dial for all latitudes, reverse, c.1695-1725 (copper)
MMM5475090 Universal equinoxial dial for all latitudes, reverse, c.1695-1725 (copper) by Culpeper, Edmund (1660-1738); National Maritime Museum, London

Sundial from Augsburg (Germany), deployed, for 10-degree latitude. Brass instrument, c.1800-1843 (brass)
MMM5475067 Sundial from Augsburg (Germany), deployed, for 10-degree latitude. Brass instrument, c.1800-1843 (brass); National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Sundial from Augsburg (Germany)

Sundial with universal equinox ring, for all latitudes, 18th century (copper)
MMM5470082 Sundial with universal equinox ring, for all latitudes, 18th century (copper); National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Sundial with universal equinox ring, for all latitudes)

Universal sundial for latitude 0-90 degrees, decorated with crowned eagles. Copper object, c.1635 (copper)
MMM5470074 Universal sundial for latitude 0-90 degrees, decorated with crowned eagles. Copper object, c.1635 (copper); National Maritime Museum, London

An Islamic solar quadrant, 1870 (lacquered wood)
MMM5470032 An Islamic solar quadrant, 1870 (lacquered wood); National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: An Islamic solar quadrant)

Analematic sundial (by projecting the shadow of the gnomon) for latitude 51 degrees, c.1697 (copper and steel)
MMM5469097 Analematic sundial (by projecting the shadow of the gnomon) for latitude 51 degrees, c.1697 (copper and steel); National Maritime Museum, London

Butterfield dial for latitude 35 degrees, built around a magnetic compass, 17th century (silver)
MMM5469074 Butterfield dial for latitude 35 degrees, built around a magnetic compass, 17th century (silver, gilded copper and glass); National Maritime Museum, London

Astronomical compendium (measurement kit) for 49° latitude, open, with magnetic compass, 1597 (brass)
MMM5474046 Astronomical compendium (measurement kit) for 49° latitude, open, with magnetic compass, 1597 (brass) by Ducher, Hans (fl.1574); National Maritime Museum, London

Compass and dipleidoscope, an instrument for evaluating exact noon, composed of a small telescope and a prism
MMM5470113 Compass and dipleidoscope, an instrument for evaluating exact noon, composed of a small telescope and a prism, 1853-60 (copper); National Maritime Museum, London

Horizontal sundial pedestal for latitude 51 degrees, by Thomas Crow (?), 1801 (copper)
MMM5470095 Horizontal sundial pedestal for latitude 51 degrees, by Thomas Crow (?), 1801 (copper); National Maritime Museum, London

Diptych sundial for 49° latitude, seen from the closed lid, in ivory, dated, c.1640-60 (ivory)
MMM5475369 Diptych sundial for 49° latitude, seen from the closed lid, in ivory, dated, c.1640-60 (ivory); National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Diptych sundial for 49° latitude)

Universal pocket equinoxial dial for Latitude 35 degrees, deployed Silver and gilded copper instrument
MMM5474504 Universal pocket equinoxial dial for Latitude 35 degrees, deployed Silver and gilded copper instrument, 1650-1700 (silver and gilded copper); National Maritime Museum, London

Sundial from Augsburg (Germany), deployed, probably for 10-degree latitude. Brass instrument, 18th century (brass)
MMM5474487 Sundial from Augsburg (Germany), deployed, probably for 10-degree latitude. Brass instrument, 18th century (brass) by Vogler, Andreas (c.1730-1800); National Maritime Museum, London

Diptych sundial, closed, marked with 6 Chinese characters in red ink declaring 'Sun Moon Combo Dial'
MMM5474453 Diptych sundial, closed, marked with 6 Chinese characters in red ink declaring 'Sun Moon Combo Dial', c.1850-1900 (wood); National Maritime Museum, London

Cylindrical sundial for latitude 44 degrees. Wooden and metal instrument, c.1835-1870 (wood and metal)
MMM5474446 Cylindrical sundial for latitude 44 degrees. Wooden and metal instrument, c.1835-1870 (wood and metal); National Maritime Museum, London

Portable horizontal sundial for latitude 48 degrees with magnetic compass. Silver instrument, 17th century (silver)
MMM5474442 Portable horizontal sundial for latitude 48 degrees with magnetic compass. Silver instrument, 17th century (silver); National Maritime Museum, London

Diptych sundial, open, for latitude 49 degrees, with magnetic compass. Wooden instrument, 18th century (wood)
MMM5474432 Diptych sundial, open, for latitude 49 degrees, with magnetic compass. Wooden instrument, 18th century (wood); National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Diptych sundial, open)

Dieppe (France) compass for lifting the magnetic azimuth, seen from above. Ivory instrument, c.1660 (ivory)
MMM5474076 Dieppe (France) compass for lifting the magnetic azimuth, seen from above. Ivory instrument, c.1660 (ivory); National Maritime Museum, London

Horizontal sundial, open, with an allegorical representation of justice (IUSTITIA) and mirror, c.1575 (silver)
MMM5474534 Horizontal sundial, open, with an allegorical representation of justice (IUSTITIA) and mirror, c.1575 (silver, leather and paper); National Maritime Museum, London

Diptych sundial (closed) for Latitude 48. Ivory instrument 1619, by Lienhart Miller (?), 1619 (ivory)
MMM5473341 Diptych sundial (closed) for Latitude 48. Ivory instrument 1619, by Lienhart Miller (?), 1619 (ivory); National Maritime Museum, London

Sundial, with a rotating disk with a lunar motion scale, in Chinese characters. Wooden instrument, c.1850-1900 (wood)
MMM5473321 Sundial, with a rotating disk with a lunar motion scale, in Chinese characters. Wooden instrument, c.1850-1900 (wood); National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Sundial)

Diptych sundial (closed) for Latitude 49. Ivory instrument, first half of the 18th century (ivory)
MMM5473296 Diptych sundial (closed) for Latitude 49. Ivory instrument, first half of the 18th century (ivory); National Maritime Museum, London

Islamic solar quadrant, engraved on both sides, and can be used for astronomical calculations, 1870 (lacquered wood)
MMM5473273 Islamic solar quadrant, engraved on both sides, and can be used for astronomical calculations, 1870 (lacquered wood); National Maritime Museum, London

Detail of the interior of an astronomical compendium for latitude 52 degrees, 1560 (brass)
MMM5470159 Detail of the interior of an astronomical compendium for latitude 52 degrees, 1560 (brass) by Schissler, Christoph (c.1531-1608); National Maritime Museum, London

A machine for showing the motions of the earth and phases of the moon, 1746 (pen, ink, wash)
7341586 A machine for showing the motions of the earth and phases of the moon, 1746 (pen, ink, wash) by Ferguson, James (1710-76); 51x36.5 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

Volvelle giving the rules for predicting solar and lunar eclipses, 1540 (hand-coloured engraving)
7340906 Volvelle giving the rules for predicting solar and lunar eclipses, 1540 (hand-coloured engraving) by Apianus, Petrus (1495-1552); National Maritime Museum, London

Man operating a pulley with lever and fulcrum
7177143 Man operating a pulley with lever and fulcrum.; Private Collection; (add.info.: Man operating a pulley with a lever and fulcrum. After an 18th century work.); Photo © Ken Welsh

This Mechanized Age, 1937: Milk Bottling (colour litho)
8657526 This Mechanized Age, 1937: Milk Bottling (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Milk Bottling)

100 old time Bible words (litho)
8673187 100 old time Bible words (litho) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: 100 old time Bible words)

All barometers, whatever their shape, are designed to measure air pressure (litho)
8673393 All barometers, whatever their shape, are designed to measure air pressure (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: All barometers, whatever their shape)

Astronomical compendium for unknown latitude, 17th century (brass)
MMM5475258 Astronomical compendium for unknown latitude, 17th century (brass); National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Astronomical compendium for unknown latitude)

Universal equinoxial dial for all latitudes, c.1695-1725 (gilded copper)
MMM5475122 Universal equinoxial dial for all latitudes, c.1695-1725 (gilded copper) by Culpeper, Edmund (1660-1738); National Maritime Museum, London

Universal equinoxial dial for Latitude 0, deployed Copper and silver-copper instrument
MMM5475101 Universal equinoxial dial for Latitude 0, deployed Copper and silver-copper instrument, 1830-50 (copper and silver-copper); National Maritime Museum, London

Horizontal and portable sundial for Latitude 49 degrees. Brass instrument, c.1715 (brass)
MMM5475086 Horizontal and portable sundial for Latitude 49 degrees. Brass instrument, c.1715 (brass); National Maritime Museum, London

Sundial from Augsburg (Germany), seen from below, for latitude 12 degrees. Brass instrument, 18th century (brass)
MMM5474485 Sundial from Augsburg (Germany), seen from below, for latitude 12 degrees. Brass instrument, 18th century (brass); National Maritime Museum, London

Diptych sundial, open, for latitude 49 degrees. Ivory and wood instrument, first half of the 18th century (wood)
MMM5474444 Diptych sundial, open, for latitude 49 degrees. Ivory and wood instrument, first half of the 18th century (wood); National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Diptych sundial, open)

Portable horizontal sundial with magnetic compass Silver and ivory instrument, c.1650-1700 (silver and ivory)
MMM5474404 Portable horizontal sundial with magnetic compass Silver and ivory instrument, c.1650-1700 (silver and ivory); National Maritime Museum, London

Portable horizontal sundial with magnetic compass Copper instrument, late 17th century (copper)
MMM5474137 Portable horizontal sundial with magnetic compass Copper instrument, late 17th century (copper); National Maritime Museum, London

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"Exploring the Rich Tapestry of Weights and Measures: From Ancient Artifacts to Scientific Instruments" Step into a world where measurements come alive, as we delve into the captivating realm of weights and measures. Our journey begins with a glimpse at history's treasures, such as the Copy of the Imperial Standard Pound C016 / 2048, an artifact that symbolizes precision and uniformity. Transporting us further back in time is an artist's drawing from 1525, depicting a lute crafted with meticulous attention to detail. This woodcut reminds us that even in artistry, accurate measurements play a vital role. Venturing into scientific marvels, we encounter the Thermometer of the Accademia del Cimento from around 1650. Its seven bulbs containing liquid and glass beads of varying densities showcase early attempts at temperature measurement—a testament to humanity's thirst for knowledge. A stunning triangulation instrument made of gold brassed materializes before our eyes—an exquisite creation from the 16th century. Crafted with precision and elegance, it highlights how instruments themselves can be works of art. Next on our expedition through time is a set comprising various mathematical tools—square, compasses, pendulum—all cast in brass during the late 16th century. These instruments served as companions for scholars seeking accuracy in their calculations—a tribute to human ingenuity. The Temperance painting from circa 1470 greets us with its tempera grassa technique on wood. It serves as a reminder that measuring not only applies to physical quantities but also extends metaphorically to balance within oneself. Intriguingly contrasting this historical artwork is a black-and-white photograph capturing Roy Barton alongside a typical negrito man—an image showcasing diversity while reminding us that people are immeasurable by mere numbers or scales alone. Our exploration takes an unexpected turn towards ancient times when Rome was plundered by Gauls under Brennus in 390 BC.