Gilt bronze, enamel and glass sundial compass - China 18th century Ateliers du Palais

Sundial bearing a compass. Cut and cast bronze, steel, enamel, glass paste, mercury. It is an extremely rare Chinese scientific object. We have only encountered 4 in 50 years of career and of much lesser quality. The Palace Museum in Beijin houses 2 copies, smaller and incomplete. The curator announces them as being produced during the reign of Emperor Qianlong, in the palace workshops, inside the walls of the Forbidden City. The condition of the one we present here is perfect. No restoration or re-gilding. Although it lost its cover, its original box protected it. In addition, the small level still contains its fluid, while all known models have lost theirs. This is mercury.
Emperors Kang-hi and Qianlong were enlightened and curious art lovers, they were passionate about European scientific instruments, thus breaking with Chinese tradition which was disinterested in them. And still loses interest....