Also known as a wind rose, the compass rose was a central feature of nearly all early navigational charts. It indicates direction so that the reader can orientate themselves when reading the chart. These tools could be very simple, with only a single pointer indicating north. They could also be far more complex, indicating the directions of North, South, East and West. Compass roses were often highly decorative. Some mapmakers had signature designs unique to themselves. They derive from the invention of the magnetic compass. Plácido Caloiro e Oliva and 

 charts include decorative compass roses.

A two-page spread from a portolan atlas with a compass rose on the top left. The map is very detailed and finely drawn by hand showing Italy and part of the Mediterranean Sea. Many rumblines are featured on the map. The names of cities and town are written in tiny letters perpendicular to the coastline. The compass rose is finely drawn with a red central dial.