Astronomical Compendium, Late 16th century (9df246)

Technical characteristics

Type

German astronomical compendium

Origin

Southern German

Material

Gilt brass or copper

Dimensions

90 x 90 x 19 mm

Provenance

Bequeathed by Octavius Morgan in 1888

Inscriptions

Names of days in German

Place recorded

Germany

Registration Number

MLA 1888, 12-1.296

Design

Visible features

• The instrument is constructed as a multi-leaf folding case with a central box containing a dial and compass well. • The exterior of the lower leaf is engraved as a quadrant with a shadow square. • The planetary table for hours of the day lists 'Erichdag' and 'PFINSDAG' for Tuesday and Thursday. • Engraved details include a human figure with a spade and a severed head within the shadow square area.

Construction and Layout

This astronomical compendium is designed as a portable folding instrument comprising an upper leaf, a lower leaf, and a central box. The gilt brass or copper body contains a complex arrangement of plates and rotating components. The upper leaf functions as a solar and lunar converter, featuring an exterior volvelle and an interior table for unequal hour conversion with an eccentric zodiac band. The central box houses a universal equinoctial dial mounted on a silver circle, with latitude markings for five locations engraved on the brass support. The lower leaf contains a table of planetary rulers for the hours of the day and night, while its exterior serves as a quadrant with a degree scale and shadow square. The interior of the main box includes a silver plate with a central compass well and peripheral hour scales. Decoration is present throughout the surface, including foliate scrolls, putti, and figurative scenes, such as a man with a spade.

Provenance and Documentation

The compendium is part of the collection at the British Museum, having been bequeathed to the institution by Octavius Morgan in 1888. It is catalogued as item MLA 1888, 12-1.296. The instrument is documented in the museum's internal records and was specifically detailed in F. A. B. Ward's 1981 work regarding European scientific instruments within the Department of Medieval and Later Antiquities. The current catalogue entry notes that the compendium is unsigned but bears similarities to other known instruments, such as Epact 20713. Researchers have noted the absence of the plumb bob and one of the securing screws for the silver ring as specific conditions of the object. The identification of regional linguistic markers, such as the specific naming of days, supports the attribution to a Southern German maker from the late 16th century.

Timekeeping and Astronomical Features

The instrument includes several mechanisms for time determination. The upper leaf volvelle is inscribed for lunar and solar time conversion, and the central equinoctial dial is supported by a ring engraved with common hours and latitudes. The inner silver plate within the main box displays city-latitude pairs, providing geographical utility alongside its primary horological functions. These features allow for the calculation of solar time, lunar cycles, and the identification of ruling planets based on the day and hour. The quadrant on the exterior of the lower leaf provides a scale for degrees and a shadow square for vertical measurements. The naming of specific days in a local dialect, alongside the planetary table, provides context for the instrument's intended regional use in Southern Germany. The inclusion of weather-related directions on the upper leaf exterior further expands the instrument's utility beyond standard timekeeping.

Identification

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.