A sextant is a precision instrument used in celestial navigation, allowing mariners to measure the angle between a celestial object (such as the sun, moon, or stars) and the horizon. This measurement, combined with charts and timekeeping, allowed sailors to calculate their latitude and longitude at sea. According to paperwork this sextant belonged to the captain of the 'Glory of the Seas', it was presented to a family friend after the ship was dismantled in Tacoma Washington.
Size - 10 inches long and 12 inches wide.
Key Features Seen Here
Brass construction: The sextant itself is brass, typical of 19th- and early 20th-century instruments.
Arc scale: The silvered arc is marked for angular measurement.
Telescopes: Several small telescopes are included in the case, interchangeable for different visibility conditions.
Wooden case: The case is wedge- or fan-shaped, which was a standard form for sextant storage and protection.
Provenance note: The handwritten card states this sextant was owned by the captain of the clipper ship “Glory of the Seas”. That ship, built in 1869 by Donald McKay, was the last clipper built by him and later dismantled in Tacoma, Washington, in 1923.
Dating
Given the provenance and the brass/wood construction, this sextant likely dates to the mid-to-late 19th century (circa 1860s–1880s), consistent with the era of Glory of the Seas.
