Ebony and Brass Octant by Spencer Browning Rust with Hand decorated Box with Gedney King Boston Label, Boston
InformationPaint decorated boxed ebony octant with ivory scales with the initials “SBR” at the center of the scale which is the abbreviation for the makers Spenser Browning and Rust, London, circa 1839. The octant retains its original painted step-up box with the retailer’s label “G.G King 52 Washington Street Boston”, circa 1839 in the inside of the lid. The box has original dark green paint on the top and a lighter color on the sides. Top raised part of the box top has a yellow painted lauburu design, and the lower section of the box has a yellow compass rose with 16 points and an additional 16 half points. The box has original dark green paint on the top and a lighter color on the sides.
Dimensions of box: Height 16 1/2, Width 14 3/4 inches.
Dimensions of octant: Height 15 1/4, Width 13 inches.
Condition: The octant is in excellent condition with a consistent age patina. The box is in good condition and has an old “dutchman” repair on the inside of the box lid. The yellow paint decoration retains strong color and is well preserved.
Note: The lauburu (a traditional Basque symbol with four comma-shaped arms representing air, earth, fire and water) appears decoratively on a number of 18th and 19th century objects (like boxes and chests) and on this octant case. Basque whale hunts of about 1545 were shore-based, and there are chronicles indicating the Basques first came to North America in 1517, an era which marked their golden period of fishing. (I 1008)
Reference: "The Peabody Museum Collection of Navigating Instruments with Notes on Their Makers" by M.V. Brewington, published by Peabody Museum, 1963. On page 32 item #57 is a description of a similar English octant which has an ivory scale is marked "SBR" indicating that the octant maker was Spencer Browning and Rust, circa 1800. Another octant in the Peabody's collection is on page 17 item #46 is also marked "SBR" comes with a box with a "Gedney King" label with the address 95 State Street Boston, page133. Gedney King was born in Boston in 1808. He took over his father's business in 1839 and died in 1858. `
Circa 1839
