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


Vertical Disc Dial
Signed by Charles Whitwell
Dated 1593; English
Gilt brass; 110 x 70 x 4 mm

The dial consists of a roughly oval plate with two hanging rings. On one side of the dial are two vertical dials with folding gnomons for hours numbered from 8 to 12 to 8 and from 4 to 12 to 4. On the same circle are the signatures '[star] Nathaniell Torporley inventor [star]' and '[star] Charolus Whitwell sculpsit [star]'. On the sides of the dials are the symbols of the zodiacal signs to adjust the gnomons according to the time of the year and in the centre is a circular table inscribed 'A Table showeing the moueable feasts for euer'. It shows, from the outermost ring, 'Wint sonti' (winter solstice), 'Rogation', 'Easter', 'I lent S', 'S letter', 'Prime'. At the top of the plate is a figure of a dog and at the bottom, a scorpion.

On the other side of the plate is a quadrant of degrees divided from [0?] to 90? by 1? and numbered by 10?, a zodiac scale divided to five and to one degree, numbered by ten from [0?] to 30?, with the symbols of the zodiacal signs. Further to the centre is a zodiac and calendar scale divided to the single day, with the symbols of the zodiacal signs numbered from 1 to 12, the names of the months and the 10th, 20th and last day numbered. Further to the centre is a table of epacts with prime and dominical letters. In the centre is the inscription 'S letter G Prime 17 Epact [star] 1593'. At the lower edge of this side is a further scale numbered each way up to 12 over an arc of 60?. The alidade, with folding sight-vanes, is engraved with arabesques and the screw appears to be a later replacement. The top and bottom parts of the dial side are also decorated with arabesques and foliage.

Soma scholars have raised doubts about the authenticity of the instrument, citing as evidence some of the constructional details of the instrument; the acanthus leaf pattern on the alidades, the folding gnomons, and the 30 Whitworth/90 metric thread on the central bolt which screws into an original tapping. The engraved lettering is fairly similar to Whitwell's script as known from other instruments signed by him, but according to these scholars, the intrusive 'h' in Whitwell's first name is suspicious, as he normally signs 'Carolus'.

Ilaria Meliconi

Museum of the History of Science, Oxford
Inventory number 52101

© 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=94033

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