A rare early backstaff with ebony frame and boxwood scales. Marked "John Urings Facit" or made by John Urings. The two arcs, one at 60 degrees and the other at 30 degrees, sit at opposite ends of the staff.
The backstaff is in excellent condition for its age. The scales include small carved decorative motifs including roses, stars and fleur-de-lis.
Urings is listed in Gloria Clifton's Directory of British Scientific Instrument Makers, 1550-1851, p. 285, working from 1730-50 in London. It appears that he died sometime around 1773 as there is record of an auction selling off the contents of his workshop in that year after his passing. Urings instruments are in several scientific museum collections including the History of Science Museum at Oxford University- they have the 71 page auction record from 1773 and an instrument by Urings.
