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 Diptych Dial The inner part of the upper leaf has a pin gnomon dial with length of the day and of the night and planetary hours marked in red from 1 to 11. The decoration on the top and the bottom of the pin gnomon dial consists of flowers and snails, and flowers on both sides. Below, a string gnomon dial with common hours marked from VI to XII to VI with dots and lines for the half and quarter hour. At the centre a gilt brass plate with a wind rose and on the borders the same typical decoration as in the outer sides. At the bottom an inscription reads 'PAVLVS REINMAN NORIMBERGAE FACIEBAT'. On the right edge a brass arm is provided for fixing the latitude. The inner part of the lower leaf has a compass with the maker's mark (a crown) painted twice, encircled by a string gnomon dial with common hours marked 4 to 12 to 8 with dots and lines for the half and quarter hours. Below, a pin gnomon dial reads Italian hours marked in green and black from 8 to 23 and Babylonian hours marked in red from 1 to 16 and a twelve-leaf flower below. On the sides there are two vases with flowers and arabesques in the spandrels, and the same decoration of moon and stars on the borders. The outer side of the lower leaf has a table of latitudes and the maker's mark (a crown) twice at the bottom. On the left edge there is a compartment for the wind vane (missing), on the bottom a conic hole for stowing the pin and on the right side a brass unequal scale of latitudes, from 20? to 70? by 2?, numbered by 10?. See P. Gouk, The Ivory Sundials of Nuremberg 1500-1700 (Cambridge, 1988). Ilaria Meliconi |