Diptych Dial by Hans Tucher, 1567

Technical characteristics

Date

1567

Type

Nuremberg diptych dial

Maker

Hans Tucher

Origin

Nuremberg

Materials

Ivory and brass

Dimensions

61 x 94 x 11 mm

Maker's mark

Crowned snake

Place recorded

Germany

Maker / attribution

Hans Tucher

Design

Visible features

• The central compass ring and needle are missing. • The pin gnomon for the equatorial dial is missing. • A mistake exists on the string dial where a 9 was marked instead of a 7. • The maker's mark of a crowned snake is visible in the source description.

Condition and Status

The instrument shows signs of wear and loss of original components. The compass ring and needle are absent from the lower leaf, and the pin gnomons for both the upper pin gnomon dial and the equatorial dial are missing. Additionally, the compartment intended for the wind vane is empty. A notation error occurred during the original manufacture of the string dial, where a numeral 9 was marked in place of a 7. The device remains in the collection of the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, identified by inventory number 82828.

Construction and Layout

The instrument is a portable diptych dial consisting of two ivory leaves connected by a hinge. The upper leaf features a wind rose on its exterior with sixteen directions, along with a table listing latitudes for ten different towns. The interior of the upper leaf contains a pin gnomon dial calibrated for Nuremberg hours, accompanied by a decorative motif of the sun, stars, and clouds. Below this, a string gnomon dial tracks common hours. The lower leaf provides an interior compass, which currently lacks its needle and ring. Below the compass is a string gnomon dial for common hours, alongside a pin gnomon dial configured for Italian hours. The exterior of the lower leaf includes a comprehensive table listing thirty-one towns and their respective latitudes, supported by four bun feet. A compartment for a missing wind vane is located on the left edge.

Signatures and Inscriptions

The dial is attributed to the maker Hans Tucher, with the date 1567 and the maker's name inscribed at the center of the upper leaf's exterior. The maker's mark, depicted as a crowned snake, is applied to the ivory body through two distinct punches. Instructional text is present on the instrument to guide the user in its operation. Specifically, there are German inscriptions explaining the use of the middle and inner dials. Furthermore, the outer side of the lower leaf contains a warning inscription related to the use of the compass in the presence of iron.

Identification

Inventory number

82828

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.