Sextant - Ebony - Hughes London - Unique ebony sextant

Unique ebony sextant made by Hughes London. This instrument was probably crafted between 1838 and 1875 and is a splendid example of 19th-century maritime craftsmanship. Although wooden instruments with a white graduated arc are technically often called octants (due to the 45-degree arc, suitable for measurements up to 90 degrees), similar models were commonly referred to in the vernacular and by sailors at the time as (ebony) sextants, of which this specimen is an example with a twofold 60-degree arc.
• Engraving "Hughes London": The inscription on the white plate helps date the piece. The well-known Henry Hughes established his business in 1838 in London.
• Material and construction: In the early to mid-19th century, the combination of a black ebony frame with a contrasting white arc (the white graduation at the bottom) and copper fittings was the standard for affordable, reliable navigation instruments. After the 1870s/1880s, the firm almost entirely transitioned to fully metal (brass or bronze) "three-circle" sextants.
About the maker: Hughes London
The Hughes family was one of the most respected and influential dynasties of instrument makers in the United Kingdom.
• Origin: The family originally started in the 18th century as clockmakers in London’s East End and expanded their expertise to marine clocks (chronometers) and navigation instruments for ships that ascended the Thames.
• Henry Hughes & Son: In 1838 Henry Hughes opened his famous shop and workshop at 59 Fenchurch Street in the maritime heart of London. The company supplied high-quality optical and navigation instruments to both the British Royal Navy and the commercial trading fleet.
• Later history: In 1903 the firm was renamed Henry Hughes & Son Ltd. After their London offices were destroyed during the Blitz in World War II (1941), they eventually merged with another giant, Kelvin Bottomley & Baird. From this emerged the famous Kelvin Hughes brand, which today still exists as a maker of modern maritime radar systems and navigation technology.
Unfortunately a few defects are visible. A part of the ebony frame is missing and a few mirrors are absent. For a skilled restorer, this is not a problem to bring the sextant back to good condition."