McAllister & Co.
Cased Set of Drawing Instruments

RetailerPhiladelphia, 1836–1853
CultureEnglish
Titles
  • Cased Set of Drawing Instruments
Datec. 1836–1853
Retailed inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Probable placeEngland
MediumBrass, steel, wood, ivory, and sharkskin
DimensionsCase: 6 7/8 × 2 7/8 × 1 1/4 in. (17.5 × 7.3 × 3.2 cm)
Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, gift of Clifford H. Royal
Object numberB.2018.60.A-.I
Current Location
Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens
Federal Parlor
On view

Explore Further

Department
Bayou Bend
DescriptionThis black shagreen-covered wooden case has numerous compartments containing a compass with pen nib and pencil, dividers, pen, parallel rule, protractor, and sector. Instruments, such as these, would have been used by practitioners of many trades during the 18th and 19th centuries, including architects, engineers, cabinetmakers, and surveyors. Surveyors used the instruments to translate measurements made in the field into drawings of land surveys. Those creating visual works, such as architects and cabinetmakers, used them to develop designs, creating the desired ratios and proportions to structure the work according to the orders or architecture or other organizing principles. Larger versions of the same instruments would have been used to scale up the designs as the work was being built. Tools like these were fundamental to the developing, recording, and implementing all manners of design during this period.
ProvenanceClifford H. Royal, Hockley, Texas; given to MFAH, 2018.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Printed paper label applied inside the case top: McALLISTER & CO. / 48, Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, / HAVE CONSTANTLY FOR SALE, CASES OF / Mathematical Instruments / For Schools, Wholesale and Retail, / Also, Dividers-Gunter’s Scales-Parallel Rules-Brass and / Ivory Protractors, &c. separate from the Cases.

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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