Azimuth Dial, 16th century
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
16th century
This azimuth dial is an unsigned instrument from 16th-century Germany, held by the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford. The sundial is composed of a circular stone tablet, measuring 178 mm in diameter, framed by a gilt brass rim and supported on three brass legs.
It features an integrated gilt brass gnomon assembly consisting of a ring mounted on a sliding and rotating pivot. Decorative rearing horses accent the gnomon structure. The stone surface displays complex markings including hour lines, zodiac scales, and inscriptions for cardinal points. A small inset compass is provided for alignment. The reverse side of the tablet contains detailed German language instructions for the user.
Provenance for the object includes the Michel and Billmeir collections. The dial is specifically constructed for a latitude of 49 degrees and 30 minutes, with the central gnomon mechanism adjusted for solar date or zodiac position to determine time.
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
- Type
- German azimuth dial
- Maker
- Unsigned
- Diameter
- 178 mm
- Latitude
- 49 degrees 30 minutes
- Material
- Stone and gilt brass
- Provenance
- Michel and Billmeir collections
- Inscriptions
- Cardinal points and Biblical quote
- Place recorded
- Germany
Design
- Visible features
- • The gnomon assembly features two small decorative rearing horse figures. • The dial surface incorporates a circular band of incised, coloured and gilt foliate decoration. • A small inset compass with an 18 mm diameter is embedded within the stone tablet. • Hour lines are marked for times between 4 and 12 to 8.
- Construction and Design
- The azimuth dial consists of a circular tablet made of stone, which the museum notes might be Solenhofen stone. This tablet is held within a gilt brass rim and elevated on three brass feet. The surface is decorated with a circular band featuring incised, coloured, and gilt foliate patterns. Within this perimeter, the dial displays the cardinal points labelled as ORIENS, MERIDIES, and OCCIDENS, alongside a Latin biblical inscription from Genesis. An inset compass, measuring 18 mm, is positioned to assist the user in orienting the instrument to the meridian. The gnomon is a central gilt brass component that can slide and rotate around a pivot. It includes a thin ring intended to cast a shadow and is adorned with pairs of rearing horse figures at both ends of the base slot. These figures serve as decorative elements on the pointers used for setting the solar date or the zodiac position. The overall design integrates functional timekeeping scales with structural aesthetic elements.
- Provenance and Documentation
- The instrument is catalogued by the Museum of the History of Science in Oxford under the inventory number 49364. Its historical ownership is traced back through two notable collections: the Michel Collection and the Billmeir Collection. The museum records these details as part of its historical documentation of the item. No maker's mark is present on the instrument, and there is no specific date beyond the broader 16th-century attribution provided by the museum. The object is featured in the Epact catalogue, which provides a description of its components and function. The museum maintains the rights to the images and text associated with this object.
- Timekeeping Scales and Operation
- The dial is engineered for a specific latitude of 49 degrees 30 minutes. The hour lines range from 4 to 12 and back to 8, calibrated against declination lines. These lines are associated with the months of the year, split between June to November at one end and December to May at the other. Users setting the device must account for the sun's position, using either the southern pointer for the date or the northern pointer to align with a zodiac scale that surrounds the compass. Once the instrument is oriented, the ring casts a shadow used to indicate the time. The zodiac scale is divided into segments of 10 and 5, with numerals for every 10 units. The operational instructions are documented in German on the underside of the stone tablet. This multi-step process allows for time determination based on the sun's azimuth and the seasonal declination.
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.
Research required
- Research required: The stone material is only tentatively identified as Solenhofen stone by the museum source.
- Research required: There is no definitive maker or specific date of manufacture provided for the instrument.