For nautical use, a new design of compass somewhat brought back the idea of the ancient water-filled bowl. By the 18th century, many complex compass designs had been created that combined compasses with alidades, inclinometers, protractors and other surveying aids. In addition to nautical, orienteering and land-navigation uses, compasses were important instruments for surveying an mapmaking, both on land and at sea. Nautical compasses were later mounted within a gimbal, allowing them to remain level despite the motion of a ship at sea. This type of compass was known as a dry compass. Including a wind rose (also known as a compass rose or compass card) that displayed the cardinal directions of North, East, South and West (along with other possible bearings) into the design and then securing the housing to the hull of a ship allowed the determination of bearing, and thus accurate maritime navigation. ![]() Rather than floating the magnetized needle freely in a bowl of water, they balanced the needle on a post and allowed it to swing freely within a protective housing. The first compasses of a “modern” form were invented by Europeans, and in use by 1300. Either way, by 1250 the basic compass was known and utilized across Eurasia, the Mediterranean, Arabia, and the Middle East. It is unknown whether knowledge of the compass spread westward from China along the Silk Road to Europe, or if it was developed independently in Europe in the century or two after its Chinese invention. ![]() In accordance with Chinese mystical beliefs and principles of feng shui, the needle was determined to point South rather than the common modern design of “pointing North”. These early compasses consisted of little more than a magnetized needle floating in a bowl of water to allow it to turn freely. The earliest known compasses were invented in China nearly a millennia ago, though principles of magnetism were known to the ancient Chinese even a thousand years before this. Upon the sea, however, ships were generally forced to remain within sight of land and follow coastlines to their destinations, making journeys much longer than might be required by crossing open seas directly from one harbor to another. Prior to the invention of the compass, travelers on land were able to travel with sufficient ease across great distances by following established roads and trails, or by mapping visible landmarks such as hills, mountains, rivers and other physical features of the landscape that could serve as guide points. ![]() All of our compasses, from the simplest children’s gift to the most elaborate desk set, are fully functional and finely crafted with careful attention paid to every aspect of their design and details. Handcrafted Nautical Décor is pleased to offer a wide array of compasses to suit every type of person, purpose or preference. The development and evolution of the medieval European compass combined with shipbuilding advances during the Age of Sail enabled the Age of Exploration, enabling the voyages of great explorers like Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan, Francis Drake and James Cook Although useful on land for orienteering, the nautical compass is indispensable upon the open seas for maintaining a proper course without the benefit of any visible landmarks. No single tool is more vital to navigation than the compass. These elegant, decorative and fully functional compasses make an excellent addition to any collection and add a touch of nautical sophistication to any home. Handcrafted Nautical Decor has the widest selection of compasses and decorative sextants available for sale: brass pocket compasses, brass desk compasses, decorative sextants, rosewood boxed compasses, brass gimbal compasses, and compasses under $20. While an early compass was little more than a magnetic needle in a bowl of water, the marine compass quickly evolved to have 48 distinct compass points along the edge to make more precise readings. ![]() First used by the Chinese in 1117, the compass revolutionized maritime navigation.
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