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A George III shagreen etui of drawing instruments, Nairne and Blunt, London, late 18th century The tapered case with hinged lid enclosing fitted interior containing an ivory parallel ruler with brass pivot linkages, an ivory ruler engraved with mathematical scales, a brass protractor with decorative pierced infill and a selection of brass compasses and other instruments, the inside of the lid applied with trade label NAIRNE & BLUNT. Optical and Mathematical, Instrument-Makers, No. 20, facing the Royal Exchange, Cornhill, London, the exterior with brass button clasp to front, 17cm (6.75ins) high. The collaboration between Edward Nairne and his former apprentice Thomas Blunt is recorded in Banfield, Edwin BAROMETER MAKERS AND RETAILERS 1660-1900 as established in 1774 and lasting until 1793. Edward Nairne was born in 1726 and apprenticed to the celebrated instrument maker, Matthew Loft, in 1741. Latterly he worked from 20 Cornhill and published numerous booklets on navigational, pneumatic and astronomical instruments. In 1776 Nairne devised a marine barometer with a restriction to the bore of the mercury tube which served to dampen the oscillation of the mercury, he was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1776 and died 1806. Thomas Blunt was apprenticed to Edward Nairne in 1760 with whom he formed a loose partnership in 1774, perhaps for mutual convenience as his premises were next door to Nairne's at 22 Cornhill. Blunt designed some of the components for the 'New Barometer' devised by the Portuguese Scientist J.H. Magellan for measuring altitude, and latterly became instrument maker to George III. In 1793 he took his son, also named Thomas, into partnership and subsequently relocated to 136 Minories in 1814, he died in 1822.

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