Diptych Dial by Hans Tucher
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1578
This 1578 diptych sundial, constructed from ivory and brass, measures 81 x 114 x 15 mm and is signed by the Nuremberg maker Hans Tucher. The instrument features a hinged construction with an integrated compass, pin gnomon dials, and string gnomon dials.
The dial is extensively inscribed with mottoes in German and includes technical features such as a lunar volvelle, a wind rose with 16 directions, and an adjustable brass arm for latitude calibration. The lower leaf houses a compass and horizontal dial with Italian hour markings and solar declination symbols. The outer surfaces contain further markings, including a list of cities and their latitudes. The object incorporates various geometric and time-keeping functions, evidenced by the presence of multiple gnomons and scales for measuring day length and cardinal directions.
It is currently held by the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, under inventory number 65544.
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
- 1578
- Type
- Nuremberg diptych dial
- Maker
- Hans Tucher
- Material
- Ivory and brass
- Dimensions
- 81 x 114 x 15 mm
- Maker's Mark
- Snake
- Place recorded
- Nuremberg
- Maker / attribution
- Hans Tucher
- Location of Manufacture
- Nuremberg
Design
- Visible features
- • The maker's mark, a snake, is visible within the compass housing. • A brass arm for latitude adjustment is positioned on the left side of the upper leaf interior.
- Construction and Design
- The diptych dial is a hinged, rectangular instrument crafted from ivory with brass fittings. It measures 81 by 114 by 15 millimeters. The object functions as a complex astronomical device, incorporating multiple time-keeping methods including pin gnomon dials, vertical string gnomon dials, and a horizontal dial. The interior of the leaves are densely packed with engraved scales for Italian hours, day length indicators, and solar declination symbols based on zodiacal signs. The upper leaf includes a central brass volvelle featuring a twelve-leaf flower, while the lower leaf contains a compass featuring the cardinal points indicated in Latin.
- Signatures and Attribution
- The piece is signed 'hans ducher zu nurnberg' on the interior of the upper leaf. The inclusion of the year '15 78' on the central volvelle confirms the production date within the Nuremberg tradition. The maker is further identified by a specific mark, a snake, located within the compass area of the lower leaf. The documentation for this object is supported by historical research into the ivory sundials of the Nuremberg region, as noted in the reference work by P. Gouk. The device remains a documented artifact in the collection of the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford.
- Inscriptions and Technical Features
- Extensive inscriptions appear throughout the dial, serving both functional and thematic purposes. Mottoes written in German reflect on the nature of the device and the expertise of the user, such as warnings against using the compass near iron or challenges to the critic's ability. Technical versatility is achieved through a combination of a lunar volvelle, a wind rose with 16 directions, and an adjustable brass arm for setting latitude. The device allows for the measurement of day length and the conversion of Italian hours, supported by a scale allowing latitude adjustment by two-degree increments.
Identification
- Inventory Number
- 65544
- 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 exact significance of the '15 78' marking position relative to the volvelle construction remains implicit.
- Research required: The specific latitude range and scale precision on the side of the dial are described as requiring adjustment by the user.