Menu
179 of 520
Previousnext
FirstLast
Sorted by:
Instrument type
Maker
Place
Date
Overview
Details
 Catalogue


Diptych Dial
Signed by Hans Tucher
circa 1600; Nuremberg
Ivory and brass; 53 x 68 x 9 mm

The upper leaf of this oval dial is in brass and on the outer part it has a wind rose with compass viewing hole and brass index arm, with 16 named directions. It is combined with a lunar volvelle, and on the leaf there is one bun foot.

The inner part of the upper leaf has a pin gnomon dial indicating the declination of the sun by the symbols of the zodiac signs and the length of the day marked from 8 to 16, inscribed 'TAGLENG'. In the centre of the leaf are holes for adjusting the latitude to 42?, 45?, 48?, 51?, 54?. Below the dial is the instruction 'IMPONE FILVM FORAM INI QVOD LOCI TVI POLVM INDICAT ET HORA HABEBITVR IN CIRCVLO QVI EODEM NVMERO POLARI INSCRIBI TVR' ('place the string in the slotlet indicating the latitude of your place and the hour will be in the circle with the same number').

The lower leaf is made of three layers, the external ones of ivory and the central one of wood (probably ebony). The inner side of the lower leaf has a compass (needle, glass and ring missing) with the abbreviated names of the cardinal directions. The compass is encircled by a string gnomon dial for the mentioned latitudes, with common hours marked VI to XII to VI, 5 to 12 to 8 and IIII to XII to VIII for the latitudes 42?, 48?, 54? respectively. Below the compass is encircled 'ELEVATIO POLI 42 4[5] 48 51 54'.

On the outer side of the lower leaf is a pierced lunar volvelle with the phases of the moon named in German and decoration of sun and half moon. At the top of the leaf are the maker's mark and initials and the quality mark 'n' for Nuremberg.

See P. Gouk, The Ivory Sundials of Nuremberg 1500-1700 (Cambridge, 1988).

Ilaria Meliconi

Museum of the History of Science, Oxford
Inventory number 52049

© Museum of the History of Science, Oxford. All rights reserved. Information and images provided here may not be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the museum.

Basic URL: http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/epact/catalogue.php?ENumber=16138

|| Introduction || Essay || Museums || Bibliography || Conventions || Credits || Privacy || Help ||
|Catalogue entries |Handlist || Makers || Places || Articles || Glossary || Search || Home ||