A scarce Louis XIV silver Butterfield pocket sundial, the richly engraved base-plate worked with time calibrations at various latitudes (underside of the plate giving the respective latitudes of various French cities), the folding gnomon with hinge engraved as a bird, recessed compass, inscribed 'Butterfield a Paris', 5.1 x 4.4cm. Note: Michael Butterfield (1635 - 1724), British clockmaker who moved to Paris in about 1663. He worked at the Royal Court and was appointed engineer to King Louis XIV. He opened a shop selling precision instruments in 1677 in Rue Neuve-des-Fosses in Saint-Germain