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


Vertical Dial
Unsigned
Dated 1593; German
Gilt brass; 31 x 31 x190 mm

This brass pillar dial has the form of a Corinthian column, on a square moulded base, and surmounted by a terrestrial globe.

The square base is inscribed on the four sides 'D ? G ? ET PET ? BELPIL ? R ? F ? INTEGERR? IVVENI ? QVEM ? SINGVL ? CONTIN ? ET ? VITAE ? MORV [?] CASTIMON ? CONIVGAL ? MOLEST ? ET ? CAET ? HOMIN ? SORTI EXEMIT COLVMN ? HANC ? AMOR ? ET ? BENEV ? MONIM CONCOR STABILIMENT ~ KAL ? LAN ? RELIG STRENAR ? DIE ~ I MAVROY ~ COGNAT ? CHARIS ~ ORANS VT ~ PER MVLTA ~ SECVL ? QVOTAN - ID ? FACERE ? DII PERMITTANT - DONAV DEDIC - AN ? S MD XCIII'.

The column, plugging into the base with a bayonet fitting, has a fluted lower portion, and the hour lines engraved on the upper portion. Horizontally is engraved a calendar scale, with the initials of the names of the months and each month divided in three parts The equinoxes are at about 20th of march and 20th September. The hour lines are engraved above the calendar scale from V to XII to VII. On the right hand side of the hours is engraved a latitude scale from 0 to 65, divided to five, subdivided to one, numbered from 10 to 60 by ten, then to 65. Symbols of the zodiacal signs are engraved below the hour lines, in vertical zones corresponding to the months.

The gnomon is fixed to the detachable capitol, finely wrought in Corinthian style. On top of it is a terrestrial globe (check the material) which can be lifted to reveal a small compass and string gnomon dial. The hour lines are engraved around the compass, from 5 to 12 to 7, with dots at the half hours. The terrestrial globe has equator and tropic lines engraved, but only the Capricorn and equator are engraved 'TROPICO DI CAPRICORNO' and 'EQVINOCTIALE'. One main latitude (West of Africa) is engraved 'LATITVDO', and on the equator line is engraved 'LONGITV{DO}'. The globe has indication of the initials of the places, and some names can be read fully; 'MARE OCEANO', 'MER DEL CHINA'.

The instrument appears to have been re-gilded in recent times.

The instrument was bequeathed by Octavius Morgan in 1888, and is described in F. A. B. Ward, A Catalogue of European Scientific Instruments in the Department of Medieval and Later Antiquities of the British Museum (London, 1981), p. 60, no. 154.

Ilaria Meliconi

British Museum, London
Registration no. MLA 1888, 12-1.282

© British Museum, London. 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=72108

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