Applewood Nocturnal
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1680-1720
This maritime device, known as a nocturnal or night-dial, dates to 1680-1720 and is crafted from applewood. It functions by measuring the position of stars relative to Polaris to determine time at night.
The instrument comprises a circular body with an integrated handle, featuring a distinct openwork heart-shaped design and a trefoil terminal. The primary disc contains engraved markings, with an outer scale indicating months and days, and an inner scale representing hours. Operation involves setting the inner disc to the current date and aligning Polaris through the central aperture, followed by rotating a pointer to a selected reference star to read the time.
The object was donated to the Victoria and Albert Museum by Miss Eleanor C. Roper.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Date
- 1680-1720
- Type
- Nocturnal
- Donor
- Miss Eleanor C. Roper
- Maker
- unknown
- Material
- Applewood
- Place recorded
- England
- Place of origin
- England
Design
- Visible features
- • Openwork heart-shaped handle terminal • Incised month and day scales on the disc face • Central aperture for Polaris sighting • Trefoil-shaped handle tip
- Operational Function
- As a nocturnal, this device was utilized to determine the time of night by observing the rotation of specific stars around Polaris. The user would set the inner disc according to the calendar date. By sighting Polaris through the central aperture, the user could then rotate the pointer to a reference star. The alignment of the pointer relative to the scales on the disc provided the time. The instrument served a similar purpose to a sundial but operated exclusively under stellar conditions, thus earning the designation of a night-dial.
- Construction and Design
- The instrument is constructed from carved applewood, featuring a roughly circular main body and an elongated handle. The handle is characterized by a central openwork section in the shape of a heart, which terminates in a trefoil motif. The overall form is designed for horizontal handling during use. The surface of the wood bears extensive incised markings and engravings. These markings form the scales necessary for celestial calculation, specifically aligning the device with the temporal data required for nocturnal timekeeping.
- Provenance and Identification
- The object is recorded in the museum's collection under the accession number W.22-1954. It was formally presented to the collection by Miss Eleanor C. Roper, originating from Croydon, Surrey. The lack of a specific maker's mark necessitates that the item be categorized as the work of an unknown creator, though it is attributed to English production between 1680 and 1720 based on its design and material characteristics.
Identification
- Accession number
- W.22-1954
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Maker is listed as unknown
- Research required: Precise manufacture date is an approximate range