A MARINER’S TRAVERSE BOARD CA. 17TH CENTURY

A navigation aid and a reminder for direction and speed.  
The traverse board was widely used in Scandinavian countries but was also known in
Holland, Germany, Italy and France.  
They were used until the 19th century.
In France they were called ‘Renard’ (fox), with reference to the naïve cunning of the tool.  
The upper part is the compass rose with the 32 wind directions.  
In each of the 32 wind directions are 8 holes, each hole represents a half hour.  
The time measurement on board was eight times a half hour.  
Each half hour when the hourglass was turned, the officer on guard stuck a pin in the
corresponding hole,  and in this way transferred the compass direction to the traverse board.  
When the direction was changed the next pin went in the adjoining row.  
In the lower table the speed - in knots- was captured using the log book.  
The instrument itself was made from oak wood and exists in a fully original state and
has never been restored.
It’s still very serviceable.  All pins are made from bone, irregularly shaped and handmade.  
On the board the remains can be seen of white and black paint.  
The hourglass pictured is from France, similar hourglasses were used on board for time representation.  
Length 29 cm.
(11.5 inches)  
Width 20 cm. (8 inches)  
Thickness 2.5 cm. (1 inch)

SOLD TO THE USA