Diptych Sundial by Georg Hartmann
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1562
This diptych dial is crafted from ivory and brass, measuring 88 by 91 by 17 millimeters. Signed by Georg Hartmann and dated 1562, it originated in Nuremberg. The inner upper leaf contains a pin gnomon dial, though the pin itself is missing.
The inner lower leaf houses a compass, currently missing its glass and needle, surrounded by a calendar scale with zodiacal signs. The instrument is extensively decorated with red and green geometrical motifs. On the outer side of the lower leaf, a table lists 34 towns and their corresponding latitudes. A specialized compartment is located on the bottom edge of the lower leaf for the storage of the dial's pin.
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
- 1562
- Type
- Nuremberg diptych dial
- Maker
- Georg Hartmann
- Origin
- Nuremberg
- Material
- Ivory and brass
- Dimensions
- 88 x 91 x 17 mm
- Compass winds
- Eight names provided
- Latitude table
- 34 towns included
- Place recorded
- Germany
- Maker / attribution
- Georg Hartmann
Design
- Visible features
- • Ivory case construction with brass hardware • Polar dial on exterior lid featuring a cherub figure • Compass well with eight named cardinal points • Extensive polychrome decoration in red and green
- Condition and Components
- The physical state of the instrument shows missing functional components. The compass, located within the lower leaf, lacks both its glass cover and the magnetic needle. Similarly, the pin gnomon dial on the inner upper leaf is missing the pin, though a specialized compartment exists for its storage on the bottom edge of the lower leaf. The object remains an important example of Hartmann's work, showing characteristic decoration styles.
- Signature and Inscriptions
- The instrument bears a clear signature and date on the inner upper leaf, attributing the manufacture to Georg Hartmann in Nuremberg in 1562. The Latin text is inscribed as '[star] GEORGIVS HARTMAN [star] [star] [star] [star] NORENBERGE [star] FACIEBAT [star] [star] ANNO [star] DOMINI [star] M [star] D [star] LXII [star]'. Beyond the maker's mark, the dial features various navigational and astronomical labels. The compass points are named in Italian, and the calendar includes signs of the zodiac. There is also a later addition of the inscription 'Polare Astronomica' written in black ink on the exterior of the upper leaf.
- Case and Dial Configuration
- The diptych dial is constructed from ivory and brass, organized into two hinged leaves. The outer upper leaf surface features a polar dial designed with a cherub standing on a grid, marking hours between 5 and 7. The exterior of the lower leaf contains a reference table listing 34 towns with their specific latitudes. The inner surfaces of the device are adorned with intricate geometrical motifs rendered in red and green pigments. The inner upper leaf serves as the primary timekeeper, featuring a central sun effigy and a pin gnomon dial calibrated for common hours from 5 to 7. A latitude adjustment arm is mounted on the inner lower leaf, which also contains a compass well and calendar scales.
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: Pin gnomon missing from the inner upper dial
- Research required: Glass and needle missing from the compass
- Research required: Later black ink inscription 'Polare Astronomica' present