Diptych Dial by Paul Reinmann
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1600
This diptych dial, created in Nuremberg circa 1600, is an ivory and brass instrument measuring 94 x 141 x 18 mm. Attributed to the maker Paul Reinmann, who signed the piece and included his crown mark, the dial is designed for multiple functions.
It integrates a lunar volvelle, a wind rose, a universal equatorial dial, and zodiac and calendar scales. The instrument features a pin gnomon dial and a string gnomon dial, with various markings for planetary, Italian, and Babylonian hours. Its surface is extensively decorated with geometrical motifs, snails, flowers, and arabesques, and includes inscriptions from Ovid's Fasti. The construction incorporates a compass in the lower leaf and a latitude scale, with a compartment for a missing wind vane.
The object is held by the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, under inventory number 46175.
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
- Paul Reinmann
- Materials
- Ivory and brass
- Signature
- PAVLVS REINMAN NORIMBERGAE FACIEBAT
- Dimensions
- 94 x 141 x 18 mm
- Maker's Mark
- Crown
- Place recorded
- Nuremberg
- Maker / attribution
- Paul Reinmann
Design
- Visible features
- • The dial is constructed from ivory leaves hinged together. • The central portion of the lower leaf contains an inset magnetic compass. • The interior of the upper leaf features a gilt brass plate with a wind rose. • There is visible surface decoration depicting flowers, vines, and snails.
- Construction and Design
- The diptych dial is a multi-functional instrument comprising ivory leaves and brass components. Measuring 94 x 141 x 18 mm, the instrument is hinged to allow it to function in both folded and open configurations. The layout includes complex markings for timekeeping, including a string gnomon dial with common hours and multiple pin gnomon dials indicating planetary, Italian, and Babylonian hours. The surface is adorned with varied ornamentation, including geometrical motifs, arabesques, snails, and floral imagery. A gilt brass plate, featuring a wind rose, is set into the center of the upper leaf's inner face. The structural design includes a brass arm for latitude adjustment and a specific compartment on the left edge intended for a wind vane, which is currently missing.
- Signatures and Inscriptions
- The object bears the signature of Paul Reinmann in Latin, reading 'PAVLVS REINMAN NORIMBERGAE FACIEBAT'. Additionally, the maker's mark, consisting of a crown, appears on the instrument. The maker also included an inscription in German at the bottom warning the user to avoid iron near the compass. The dial includes text from Ovid’s Fasti, specifically lines 771-2 of book 6, detailing the passing of time.
- Provenance and Documentation
- The dial is held in the collection of the Museum of the History of Science in Oxford, recorded under inventory number 46175. It is documented as part of the Epact archive regarding scientific instruments of medieval and Renaissance Europe. The piece is identified in the academic literature concerning the manufacture of ivory sundials in Nuremberg between 1500 and 1700. Its features, including the specific maker's mark and the decorative program, assist in the attribution of the dial to the workshop of Paul Reinmann around the year 1600.
Identification
- Inventory Number
- 46175
- 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 source notes that the wind vane is missing from its compartment.
- Research required: The original extent of the decorative finish on the ivory surface may have altered over time.