Compass origin was from ancient China. Considered an instrument of magic by many, it was used primarily for Feng Shui purposes. Then compass was taken to the West it introduced open-sea navigation. Sailing vessels no longer needed to hug the coast.
This collector’s compass was originally created for the scientific instrument collection of King George IV. Elegant design of this compass features gimbal-rings, which serve to keep the compass bowl horizontal, regardless of how much the vessel is heeling over. King George compass is hand-tooled in admiralty brass
