The new Iris drawing compass features added grip and honed tolerances for ease of use.

One of the most beautiful mechanisms to have stood the test of time is here, in the palm of your hand. Enjoy using Iris to draw and measure single, concentric, or even shaded circles with its unique moving aperture. Iris is made with utmost care and consideration, featuring a solid brass body and carefully selected corrosion-resistant stainless spring steel leaves.

Find your Iris here today to explore new realms of creativity.

London-based design studio ‘makers cabinet’ puts a new spin on an 18th-century design, creating a drawing tool that employs the mechanics of the aperture used in a camera lens. ‘iris’ aids in the drawing and measurement of circles as its stainless-steel leaves rotate on the inside of a solid brass enclosing, scaling them to a specified size.

Believing the traditional rotary drawing compass to be inadequate, makers cabinet was inspired by camera aperture to create an instrument which makes use of the same mechanics. its scale is marked with a red dot, allowing the diameter of each circle to be read without the impediment of any other tool. below the iris’ leaves sits a natural rubber footprint that seamlessly grips to your page. a mark on its measurement gauge creates repeat and changing circles.