Anonymous Sets

#2 Italian turn-about compass mid 19th century.

#1 Italian set 4th quarter 19th century.

An unmarked Italian set dating from the end of the 19th century. On the bottom side of the case is a label with an illustration of the San Michele Bridge, built in 1889, near the village of Paderno d'Adda in Northern Italy not far from Milan.

This particular style of instruments seems to have been made popular by Carlo Bordogna, an instrument maker from Milan active c. 1839-1861. Antonio (*1810), one of Carlo's sons, was known to have made drawing and astronomical instruments. Antonio was apprenticed to Antonio Longoni of Milan and Carlo Barbanti of Turin. From 1816 to at least 1855 Carlo Bordogna (*1780) was employed as concierge at the Brera Observatory and for a time may have acted as assistant to Carlo Grindel.

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[1] Hambly; pl.VII and pl.XVIII.

[2] Guida Milanese 1839; p.405. [Google Books]

[3] Guida Milanese 1848; p.217, 230, 613. [Google Books]

[4] http://www.brera.inaf.it

[5] Luigi Mussio, Daniela Poligiudizi; 'Critici e dialettici sulla geomatica e la geomatica applicata.'

On the bottom of the case is an illustration of the Paderno d’Adda Bridge, built in 1889.