Sextant - Ebony - Hughes London - Unique ebony sextant

A unique ebony sextant made by Hughes London.
This instrument was most likely made 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 colloquially and by sailors at the time also referred to as (ebony) sextants, of which this specimen is an example with a 2 × 60 degree arc.
• Engraving "Hughes London": The inscription on the white plate helps in dating. The renowned Henry Hughes established his business in 1838 in London.
• Material and construction: In the early and mid-19th century the combination of a black ebony frame with a contrasting white arc scale (the white graduated scale at the bottom) and copper components was the standard for affordable, reliable navigational instruments. After the 1870s/1880s the company almost entirely shifted 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 began in the 18th century as clockmakers in the East End of London and expanded their expertise to marine chronometers and navigational instruments for ships that plied 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 navigational instruments to both the British Royal Navy and the commercial merchant fleet.
• Later history: In 1903 the firm was renamed Henry Hughes & Son Ltd. After their offices in London were destroyed during the Blitz in World War II (1941), they eventually merged with another giant, Kelvin Bottomley & Baird. From this arose the famous Kelvin Hughes brand, which today still exists as a maker of modern maritime radar systems and navigational technology.
Unfortunately, there are a few flaws visible. And a part of the ebony frame is missing along with a couple of mirrors. For a skilled restorer, this is not a problem to bring the sextant back to good condition.