Medieval Iron Compass
05
days
07
hours
36
minutes
08
seconds
Starting bid
€ 1
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 180 - € 220
No bids placed
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 130814 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Medieval iron compass from the 14th–15th century, about 103.4 mm long, in good condition with a brown patina and immobile arms, originating from the Netherlands and acquired in 2020 from a dealer at a fair.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
A medieval iron compass formed with two long tapering arms joined at the top by a hinge with a simple collared terminal. The legs are slender and evenly pointed, designed for marking out circles or measuring distances in wood, parchment, leather, or other materials.
Length: ± 103,4 mm
Condition: Intact, the surface shows signs of oxidation and wear with a stable brown ferrous patina and minor corrosion-related roughness. The two arms are now fixed in place and no longer move, having become immobile over time.
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format).
-> In the Middle Ages, compasses were essential practical tools used by craftsmen, builders, scribes, and metalworkers to measure distances and mark out circles, arcs, and repeated geometric patterns. They played an important role in architecture, manuscript production, carpentry, masonry, and decorative design, where accuracy and proportion were highly valued. Simple iron examples such as this would have been used in the workshop for setting out shapes and transferring measurements rather than for navigation.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* MARGIN SCHEME: All our sales are subject to the margin scheme; therefore, no VAT is charged or shown on our invoices.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
A medieval iron compass formed with two long tapering arms joined at the top by a hinge with a simple collared terminal. The legs are slender and evenly pointed, designed for marking out circles or measuring distances in wood, parchment, leather, or other materials.
Length: ± 103,4 mm
Condition: Intact, the surface shows signs of oxidation and wear with a stable brown ferrous patina and minor corrosion-related roughness. The two arms are now fixed in place and no longer move, having become immobile over time.
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format).
-> In the Middle Ages, compasses were essential practical tools used by craftsmen, builders, scribes, and metalworkers to measure distances and mark out circles, arcs, and repeated geometric patterns. They played an important role in architecture, manuscript production, carpentry, masonry, and decorative design, where accuracy and proportion were highly valued. Simple iron examples such as this would have been used in the workshop for setting out shapes and transferring measurements rather than for navigation.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* MARGIN SCHEME: All our sales are subject to the margin scheme; therefore, no VAT is charged or shown on our invoices.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Details
Culture
Medieval
Century/timeframe
14th-15th century
Name of object
Compass
Acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Year acquired
2020
Material
Iron
Country acquired from
Netherlands
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Previous owner - year acquired
2020
Previous owner - country acquired from
Netherlands
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
Disclaimer
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
