Compass box. Russia, late 19th century.

Compass box. Russia, late XIX century.
Box of technical drawing instruments with precision compasses. The box is of varnished wood, with brass cartouche shield inlaid in the lid for initials, metal latch (keyless) and brass hinges. The interior is lined in black velvet with green trim, and features a removable inner tray with specific housing for each piece.
It contains a set of steel instruments, some of them with bakelite or ebonite handles. Among the preserved instruments, various types of compasses can be identified (stick, precision, articulated arms), extenders, mechanical pencils and interchangeable parts. Several accessory tools are missing.
On the inside of the lid there is a blue oval label with an inscription in Cyrillic, belonging to the merchant T. I. Hagen, based in Moscow, Lubianka Street. This label confirms the Russian origin of the piece and links it to a store active during the second half of the 19th century.
The box shows some flaws in the exterior finish, signs of wear from use, and the lack of several instruments and the key.
Measurements: 5 x 25 x 13 cm.

The extensive history of the compass begins in Ancient Greece, when this utensil was used as a key element in geometric and mathematical demonstrations. Until that time, earlier cultures such as the Egyptians had relied on taut strings to draw circles. Subsequently, other cultures used this valuable instrument as a source of creation, from the Romans to the Renaissance era. However, the real heyday of the compass came in the 17th century, when the first workshops dedicated to the manufacture of scientific and precision instruments appeared, producing compasses that were even artistically decorated. The development of navigation and the introduction of technical drawing in many academic training courses led to the increasing importance of this instrument, which became an indispensable element in the daily life of these professionals. At the same time, advances in precision mechanics in the 18th and 19th centuries led to the emergence of companies specializing in the manufacture of compasses, which became increasingly industrialized.