TitleBrass sextant with accessories in oak box Datec 1825-1850About this objectHoused in a fitted oak case, this brass sextant was made by the Parisian instrument maker Edmond Lorieux and sold through Raillard, an optical instrument retailer in Brest. The custom-made housing contains accessories including vanes, eyepiece shades and sighting tubes.
The sextant was a key navigational instrument used to measure the angle between celestial bodies and the horizon, allowing navigators to determine their latitude and longitude at sea. It evolved from the earlier octant (such as Object 88.1 in the La Perouse Museum Collection) – developed in the early 18th century – which could measure angles up to 45 degrees. The sextant extended the range to 60 degrees, providing more precise measurements and becoming the preferred tool for maritime expeditions.
The sextant bears the maker’s stamp ‘E. Lorieux / constructeur / À Paris’ and Lorieux’s engraved signature with the serial number 2520, while the label on the box lists the product range of Raillard, dealer and repairer of Lorieux instruments, showing a well-established maker-distributor networks in Paris at the time. Object No.88.59Physical descriptionInstrument, brass, navigational with four arms that join at one point and a curved bar at the other end. There are several knobs and lenses with a small telescope attached. The whole comes in a oak wooden box with other accessories.CreatorLorieux, EdmondInscriptions & marksSigned 'Lorieux'
Oak box marked 'Le Ferre'DimensionsH: 120mm
W: 260mm
D: 260mmPlace madeFranceMaterialBrassSteelGlassWoodSourceLa Perouse MuseumCredit lineGift of Banque Paribas, 1988On displayNoTypeMuseum objectsOrganisations (Detailed entries)La Perouse Museum (La Perouse, N.S.W.)ThemesEuropean arrivalsScience and communication
Lorieux, Edmond, Brass sextant with accessories in oak box (c 1825-1850). Randwick City Council, accessed 20/01/2026, https://ourstory.randwick.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/12310
