Compass Gallery

A Hansen, first officer on the Knivsberg, 1898. Creator: Christian Wilhelm Allers

A Hansen, first officer on the Knivsberg, 1898. Portrait of a German crew member using compasses and parallel rulers to plot the course of the SS Knivsberg through the South China Sea. On the table is a copy of "The China Sea Directory", volume II, 3rd edition, [1889]. From "Rund um die Erde" [Round the Earth], written and illustrated by C. W. Allers. [Union Deutsche Verlagsgesellschaft, Stuttgart, 1898]

© The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Masonic apron from the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, late 18th century

African-American abolitionist Prince Hall (c. 1735-1807) founded Prince Hall Freemasonry and was a leader in the free black community in Boston. He also lobbied for education rights for African American children and was active in the back-to-Africa movement. The apron is composed of a front piece (2013.71.1a) and two ties (2013.71.1bc). The front of the apron is likely silk and constructed from two pieces sewn together along the top edge. Both have a white central field with blue borders. The main piece is a rough square featuring a compass and sun painted in gold. The upper piece is an isosceles triangle coming to a point 6 3/4" from the top of the apron. It features a gold painted illustration of an eye in the middle of a radiating design. The apron is backed with undecorated cotton or linen, which is discolored and stained. The two detached ribbon ties are blue and likely made of silk

© Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Portrait of Andrea Palladio in half-length within an oval frame; a compass

Portrait of Andrea Palladio in half-length within an oval frame; a compass, carpenter's square, and plumb line rest on the plinth below the oval, from an unidentified edition of Architecture de Palladio, revised by Giacomo Leoni and translated by Nicholas du Bois, 1716. After Paolo Veronese

© Heritage Art/Heritage Images

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