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Diptych Dial
Signed by Hans Troschel
circa 1600; Nuremberg
Ivory and brass; 48 x 75 x 13 mm

The outer side of the upper leaf has a wind rose with 32 directions, eight of which are named with the correspondent wind name, compass viewing hole and index arm, and the inscription 'MONSTRO VIAM PERGE SECVRVS [star]' ('I show the way, go on securely').

The inner part of the upper leaf has a pin gnomon dial with Babylonian hours marked in red from 0 to 10 and Italian hours marked in black from 13 to 24. Below it, is a string gnomon dial with hours marked from VI to XII to VI and dots for the half-hour. At the bottom is the signature '[star] HANS TROSCHEL [star]'.

The inner part of the lower leaf has a string gnomon dial for common hours marked from 4 to 12 to 8 with lines and dots for the half and quarter hours. There are motifs of stars in the spandrel spaces. The dial encircles a compass with the abbreviated names of the cardinal points.

Below the compass is a pin gnomon dial with Italian hours marked from 10 to 23 in black and Babylonian hours marked in red from 1 to 14.

The outer side of the lower leaf has a lunar volvelle with the inscription 'AETATIS LUNAE ET HORAE NOCTIS [star] [star]' and the maker's mark (a bird) repeated three times at the bottom. There are also four bun feet in the spandrel spaces.

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

Ilaria Meliconi

Museum of the History of Science, Oxford
Inventory number 52657

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