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.