Collection

Broca goniometer for measuring angles of the face

Made:
1862-1900 in France
Broca goniometer for determining the "facial angle" and "facial Broca goniometer for determining the "facial angle" and "facial Broca goniometer for determining the "facial angle" and "facial Broca goniometer for determining the "facial angle" and "facial Broca goniometer for determining the "facial angle" and "facial Broca goniometer for determining the "facial angle" and "facial Broca goniometer for determining the "facial angle" and "facial
Broca goniometer for determining the "facial angle" and "facial Broca goniometer for determining the "facial angle" and "facial Broca goniometer for determining the "facial angle" and "facial Broca goniometer for determining the "facial angle" and "facial Broca goniometer for determining the "facial angle" and "facial Broca goniometer for determining the "facial angle" and "facial Broca goniometer for determining the "facial angle" and "facial

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Broca goniometer for determining the "facial angle" and "facial
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Broca goniometer for determining the "facial angle" and "facial
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Broca goniometer for determining the "facial angle" and "facial
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Broca goniometer for determining the "facial angle" and "facial
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Broca goniometer for determining the "facial angle" and "facial
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Broca goniometer for determining the "facial angle" and "facial
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Broca goniometer for determining the "facial angle" and "facial
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Broca goniometer for determining the "facial angle" and "facial triangle" in anthropometrical studies, invented by Paul Broca. No maker marked, French, 1862-1900

Used to measure the ‘Jacquart’ angle of the face, the two arms of the device are placed on either side of the skull. The vertical measure is placed on the skull so the angle from brow to jaw can be read off the graduated dial at the bottom.

The ‘Jacquart’ angle and other measurements of the face, such as the extension of the jaw, were used by anthropologists in the 1800s to classify human types and ‘races’, in the mistaken belief that some human groups were more evolved than others. Human types were then placed on an evolutionary ladder, inevitably with Europeans at the top. The device was invented by Paul Broca (1824-80), a French surgeon and anthropologist.

Details

Category:
Psychology, Psychiatry & Anthropometry
Object Number:
1980-1101
Materials:
instrument, boxwood and brass
Measurements:
overall: 22 mm x 171 mm x 173 mm, 0.2 kg
type:
goniometer
credit:
Christie's South Kensington Limited

Parts

Compas d 'epaisseur micrometrique' "Compas d "epaisseur micrometrique" Calliper for measuring the head in criminal identification system, Paris, France, 1867-1899 Calliper for measuring the head in criminal identification system, Paris, France, 1867-1899 Calliper for measuring the head in criminal identification system, Paris, France, 1867-1899

Calliper for measuring the head in criminal identification system, Paris, France, 1867-1899

Known as a compass d’epaisseur, this calliper was used to measure the thickness of the neck. Held horizontally, the two branches were applied to the neck and the measurement in millimetres read from the scale. Neck thickness was just one measurement taken of the human body by anthropologists in the 1800s, who attempted to classify humans into different types and races.

Devised by Paul Broca (1824-80), a French surgeon and anthropologist, the calliper was made by Mathieu, a French surgical instrument maker.

Measurements:
overall: 80 mm x 300 mm .132kg
Materials:
metal
Object Number:
1980-1101/1
type:
calliper
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

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