Meetinstrument, wellicht voor het opmeten van koersen, bestaande uit een ronde houten schijf voorzien van een draaiende wijzer op een loden as c. 1590 - 1596

This is a measuring instrument of unknown date, possibly for plotting courses, made with a wooden disc, a rotating pointer, and a lead axis. The object presents as a circle, neatly divided by incised lines into what appear to be segments. At its center, a lead axis is surrounded by what looks like a flower shape. This ordered division contrasts with the irregularity of the wood itself, worn with age, giving a sense of time’s impact on structured space. The lines suggest an intention to measure, dissect, or understand space, reflecting Renaissance interests in cartography and mathematical order. The flower at the center introduces a natural element into this structure. In this way, it reflects a broader cultural attempt to reconcile the natural world with human intellect. Consider how the form of this instrument serves as a symbolic representation of our enduring quest to understand and measure our world. Its weathered texture and precise geometry together capture the tension between human intent and the uncontrollable forces of time.