Diptych Dial, circa 1600 (a4adcd)
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1600
This diptych dial, measuring 69 x 48 x 11 mm, is constructed from ivory and brass in the form of a book. It is attributed to the Nuremberg maker Paul Reinmann and dated to approximately 1600.
The exterior features brass spandrels, clasps, and four bun feet, with depictions of saints on the outer leaves. The upper interior leaf contains a string gnomon dial with common hours numbered VI to XII to VI, accompanied by a central sun effigy. The lower interior leaf includes a compass and a secondary string gnomon dial numbered 5 to 12 to 7. The maker's mark, a crown, is present within the compass. Because the same mark was utilized by Michael Lesel between 1609 and 1629, the attribution to Reinmann remains tentative.
The object is currently held in the collection of the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford.
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
- Attributed to Paul Reinmann
- Materials
- Ivory and brass
- Dimensions
- 69 x 48 x 11 mm
- Maker's Mark
- A crown
- Place recorded
- Germany
- Holding Institution
- Museum of the History of Science, Oxford
- Maker / attribution
- Attributed to Paul Reinmann
- Compass Cardinal Points
- SE, OR, ME, OC
Design
- Visible features
- • The dial is oriented in an open position showing interior dials. • A thin red string acts as the gnomon connecting the two leaves. • Metal clasps are visible along the edges of the ivory leaves. • The compass bowl interior is visible on the lower leaf surface.
- Attribution and Markings
- The instrument bears a crown as the maker's mark, located within the compass interior. While this mark is associated with the Nuremberg maker Paul Reinmann, its historical context is shared with other makers. Specifically, the same coronet mark was utilized by Michael Lesel during his period of activity between 1609 and 1629. Due to this overlap in the use of the mark, the attribution to Reinmann is not considered definitive, even though it matches his known work period leading up to 1609. Consequently, the maker's mark alone is viewed as an incomplete diagnostic tool for determining the origin of the dial.
- Internal Dials and Instrumentation
- The interior of the upper leaf houses a string gnomon dial with hours marked in Roman numerals from VI to XII and back to VI. A central sun effigy is engraved as part of the dial design. The spandrel areas are decorated with quatrefoil motifs. The lower leaf contains a compass, though the original ring is noted as missing. The cardinal points are inscribed as 'SE', 'OR', 'ME', and 'OC'. Adjacent to the compass is a second string gnomon dial with hours numbered 5 to 12 to 7, which incorporates specific indicators for half and quarter hour intervals.
- Construction and Exterior Decoration
- The instrument is crafted in the form of a book, utilizing ivory as the primary material for the leaves and brass for the mechanical and decorative components. The exterior features include four bun feet for stability, along with functional brass clasps that secure the two leaves when closed. The outer surfaces are decorated with brass spandrels, providing both structural reinforcement and ornamentation. Both outer leaves are adorned with figurative illustrations. The upper leaf displays an unidentified bearded saint dressed in a toga and holding a spear, flanked by foliate tendrils. The lower leaf depicts St. Peter, also in a toga and carrying a sword, featuring similar foliate decoration and matching brass spandrels to those found on the upper leaf.
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 attribution to Paul Reinmann is complicated by the use of the same mark by Michael Lesel.
- Research required: The ring for the compass on the lower leaf is missing.
- Research required: The identity of the bearded saint on the upper leaf remains unconfirmed.