Diptych dial by Hieronymus Reinmann
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1559
This diptych dial, manufactured in 1559 in Nuremberg, is crafted from ivory and brass and measures 56 x 90 x 13 mm. Signed by Hieronymus Reinmann, the instrument features extensive decorative use of red and green colouring.
The upper leaf includes a pin gnomon dial and a table of eighteen towns with latitudes. The interior of the upper leaf displays a vertical pin gnomon dial, a string gnomon dial, and a second vertical string gnomon dial, alongside a signature at the base. The lower leaf houses a compass, a string gnomon dial, and a further pin gnomon dial for Italian and Babylonian hours, accompanied by a brass latitude adjustment arm.
Various components, including the pin, needle, ring, and glass, are absent from the current assembly. An ink notation 'N 77' appears on the exterior of the lower leaf, while a storage compartment for the missing pin is located on the bottom edge.
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
- 1559
- Type
- Nuremberg diptych dial
- Maker
- Hieronymus Reinmann
- Location
- Nuremberg
- Materials
- Ivory and brass
- Signature
- IERONIMVS REINMAN NORENBERGE FACIEBAT
- Dimensions
- 56 x 90 x 13 mm
- Place recorded
- Nuremberg
- Maker / attribution
- Hieronymus Reinmann
Design
- Visible features
- • Extensive use of red and green pigment for numbering and decorations • Significantly complex dial layout on the inner leaf surfaces • Absence of primary time-keeping components including the needle and string gnomons • Presence of a brass adjustment arm on the lower leaf
- Reported Condition
- Specifically, the pin gnomon for the exterior dial, the string gnomons for the interior dials, and the compass needle, ring, and glass are all absent. Despite the absence of these mechanical components, the ivory housing remains intact, including the compartment on the bottom edge of the lower leaf intended for the storage of the pin. The brass latitude adjustment arm is present, though
- Construction and Design
- The diptych dial is constructed from ivory and brass, measuring 56 by 90 by 13 millimetres. The exterior of the upper leaf features a pin gnomon dial for common hours, accompanied by a sun effigy and decorative spandrels, alongside a latitude table for eighteen towns. The inner surfaces are notable for their decorative application of green and red colours. The inner upper leaf incorporates three distinct dial systems: a vertical pin gnomon dial for Italian and Babylonian hours, a central string gnomon dial, and a vertical string gnomon dial. The lower leaf contains an internal compass, a string gnomon dial for common hours, and a pin gnomon dial with associated inscriptions indicating the calculation of hours from sunrise and sunset. A brass arm is provided for adjusting the latitude.
- Inscriptions and Signature
- The object is identified by the signature located at the bottom of the inner upper leaf, which reads 'IERONIMVS REINMAN NORENBERGE FACIEBAT'. The date '1559' is inscribed in the centre of the same leaf, rendered in red with green stars. Additional inscriptions include geographical terms such as 'OCCASVS', 'SEPTE NTRIO', and 'ORTVS' within the spandrel spaces. On the lower leaf, a Latin inscription notes the function of the dial related to sunrise and sunset hours. The letter sequence 'A A' is punched near the hinge. Furthermore, an inventory or reference marking, 'N 77', is written in black ink on the outer side of the lower leaf, providing a supplementary identification for the instrument.
Identification
- Inventory number
- 81867
- 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 purpose of the 'A A' inscription near the hinge is not verified.
- Research required: The original condition of the missing components remains uncertain.