Diptych Dial by Paul Reinmann, 1599
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1599
This diptych dial, created in 1599 by Paul Reinmann in Nuremberg, is constructed of ivory and gilt brass. Measuring 95 x 155 x 20 mm, the folding instrument functions as a multi-device timekeeper.
The dial features extensive ornamentation, including foliage, birds, cherub heads, Roman soldiers, and a vignette of a putto with a skull and sand glass. The upper leaf incorporates a wind rose, a lunar volvelle, and a brass equatorial plate, while the inner surface provides a pin gnomon dial and a vertical string gnomon dial. The lower leaf contains a compass, a scaphe dial for Italian and Babylonian hours, and a latitude table.
The instrument is signed 'PAVLVS REINMAN NOREMBERGAE FACI' and bears the maker's crown mark.
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
- 1599
- Type
- Nuremberg diptych dial
- Maker
- Paul Reinmann
- Materials
- Ivory and gilt brass
- Signature
- PAVLVS REINMAN NOREMBERGAE FACI
- Dimensions
- 95 x 155 x 20 mm
- Maker's mark
- A crown
- Place recorded
- Germany
- Maker / attribution
- Paul Reinmann
- Place of manufacture
- Nuremberg
Design
- Visible features
- • The dial is missing a pin for the equatorial plate • The compass ring is missing • The maker's crown mark is punched twice • The instrument features a string gnomon
- Signature and Identification
- The instrument is signed by the Nuremberg maker Paul Reinmann on the inner face of the upper leaf. The Latin inscription 'PAVLVS REINMAN NOREMBERGAE FACI' confirms the origin and maker. Additionally, the maker’s mark, representing a crown, is struck twice near the compass assembly on the lower leaf, providing a secondary point of verification for the provenance of the piece. The date 1599 is prominently featured at the center of the string gnomon dial on the lower leaf. These marks establish the object as a late 16th-century production from a recognized center of instrument-making. The documentation refers to the work as a significant example of the ivory sundials produced in Nuremberg during this period.
- Structural Design and Materials
- The diptych dial is a composite instrument made primarily of ivory with decorative and functional components of gilt brass. It consists of two leaves that fold together when not in use. The outer surfaces and borders are heavily decorated with engraved foliage, bird figures, and a central vignette depicting a putto resting on a skull. This object utilizes complex astronomical timekeeping elements integrated into the ivory body, including a wind rose, lunar volvelle, and multiple gnomon styles. The internal brass equatorial dial and scaphe dial demonstrate the use of metal inlay within the ivory substrate to provide durability for rotating or recessed features.
- Timekeeping and Astronomical Functions
- The dial incorporates multiple methods for determining time and solar position. The upper leaf features a pin gnomon dial designed to indicate day and night lengths, alongside symbols for zodiacal signs to track solar declination. A vertical string gnomon dial provides common hours, marked in intervals of quarters and halves. The lower leaf contains a compass for orientation and a specialized scaphe dial for measuring Italian and Babylonian hours. Additional latitude and epoch data are engraved on the edges and outer sections, allowing the user to adapt the instrument to different geographic locations. The presence of a lunar volvelle indicates the inclusion of moon-related chronological calculations.
Identification
- 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 current functionality of the equatorial dial is impaired due to the missing pin
- Research required: The exact purpose of the brass arm scale is documented as unequal latitudes but its original deployment requires context