















Compendium consisting of a sundial, companss and calendar indices made by Elias Allen between 1630 and 1653, near St. Clement's Church close to the Strand, London. Inscribed: "Elias Allen fecit" and outer lid engraved with the royal coat of arms.
A compendium is a multi-function instrument. This example consists of a sundial, compass and calendar indices and was made by Elias Allen between 1630 and 1653 at his workshop near St. Clement's Church which was called 'The Bull's Head'. The sundial ring is inscribed: "Elias Allen fecit" and the outer lid is engraved with the royal coat of arms of either King James I or King Charles I, but the object has been attributed to the reign of King Charles I. Elias Allen (active 1602-1653) was a mathematical instrument maker who moved to London from Tonbridge in Kent to take up an apprenticeship with Charles Whitwell in around 1602.
On display
If you are visiting to see this object, please contact us in advance to make sure that it will be on display.
Related people
Details
- Category:
- Time Measurement
- Object Number:
- 1883-135
- Materials:
- brass (copper, zinc alloy), iron, mica, paint and paper (fibre product)
- Measurements:
-
Closed: 20 mm x 10 mm x 80 mm, 0.2 kg
Open: 90 mm x 185 mm x 80 mm, 0.2 kg
- taxonomy:
-
- furnishing and equipment
- measuring device - instrument
- timepiece
- furnishing and equipment
- measuring device - instrument
- timepiece
- credit:
- Victoria and Albert Museum
Cite this page
Rights
We encourage the use and reuse of our collection data.
Data in the title, made, maker and details fields are released under Creative Commons Zero
Descriptions and all other text content are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence
Download
Download catalogue entry as json
View manifest in IIIF viewer
Add to Animal Crossing Art Generator
Download manifest IIIF
Our records are constantly being enhanced and improved, but please note that we cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information shown on this website.