Diptych Dial
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1600
This diptych dial is a portable timekeeping instrument crafted from ivory and brass, measuring 82 x 52 x 14 mm. It originates from Nuremberg and is attributed to Hans Troschel.
Constructed in the form of a book secured with clasps, the dial consists of two leaves that feature complex engraving and polychrome detailing. The interior of the upper leaf contains a pin gnomon dial calibrated for daylight hours and zodiacal sun declination, accompanied by a vignette depicting a putto with a skull and hourglass, inscribed with a memento mori. The lower leaf houses a compass cavity and a pin gnomon dial indicating Italian and Babylonian hours, with the signature of Hans Troschel present.
The exterior features include a blank upper lid and a coat of arms on the lower lid depicting a shield with an eagle and a tower, surmounted by a gryphon crest.
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
- circa 1600
- Type
- Nuremberg diptych dial
- Maker
- Hans Troschel
- Materials
- Ivory and brass
- Dimensions
- 82 x 52 x 14 mm
- Place recorded
- Germany
- Maker / attribution
- Hans Troschel
- Place of manufacture
- Nuremberg
Design
- Visible features
- • Vignette of a putto with skull and sandglass • Engraved zodiac symbols along the sides • Missing compass components including needle, ring, and glass • Missing pin gnomon from the upper leaf
- Signatures and Status
- The instrument is signed on the interior of the lower leaf. The signature 'HANS TROSCHEL' is engraved prominently, positioned at the top of the lower dial face near the central compass housing. Current assessment of the object notes several absences of original components, specifically the compass assembly and the gnomon pin for the upper leaf. The provenance of the coat of arms remains a subject of research, as the family or individual to whom the crest belonged has not been identified.
- Case and Exterior Features
- The instrument is configured as a rectangular diptych, designed to function like a book. The exterior is constructed from ivory and includes metal clasps to keep the leaves closed when not in use. The upper lid exterior is mostly plain, adorned only by a two-lined black frame. The exterior of the lower leaf provides the only heraldic information for the object. It features an unidentified coat of arms containing a shield with a base tower and an eagle in the chief, topped by a coroneted helm and a rampant gryphon crest.
- Dials and Interior Decorations
- The interior faces contain two separate pin gnomon dials. The upper leaf includes a dial marked for the length of the day from 8 to 16, showing declination via zodiacal symbols. Below this scale is a decorative vignette, hand-colored in red and green, showing a putto resting an arm on a skull while holding a sandglass. This scene is captioned with the Latin phrase 'HORA FVGIT MORS VENIT'. The lower leaf provides a compass base, though the internal components are missing. A second dial plate displays Italian hours in black and Babylonian hours in red, with markings for the solstices. A corresponding vignette on this leaf depicts a pelican feeding its young, a symbol associated with the concept of Redemption.
Identification
- Reference
- 42021
- Inventory number
- 42021
- 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 identity of the coat-of-arms is currently unknown
- Research required: Originality of the missing compass components cannot be confirmed