Set of drawing instruments and their case
Michael Butterfield (1635-1724) Paris, vers 1700 Carton et cuir pour la trousse Acier, laiton et bois pour les instruments
The case holds ten instruments, some of them signed Michael Butterfield, a manufacturer of scientific instruments based in Paris. The set includes instruments for measuring (protractor, sector, folding square, divider) and drawing straight lines (rule, ruling pen), right angles (square) and circles (two compasses). Diderot used similar tools for his own studies on squaring the circle.