Diptych Sundial by Johann Gebhart
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1561
This diptych sundial, constructed from ivory and brass, measures 55 x 89 x 13 mm and was produced in Nuremberg in 1561 by the maker Johann Gebhart. The instrument is designed to indicate common, Italian, and Babylonian hours.
Its construction includes an upper leaf with both pin and string gnomon dials, featuring elaborate decorations of stars, geometrical motifs, and a central sun effigy. The lower leaf contains an integrated compass marked with cardinal directions and additional horizontal dials for timekeeping. The signature of Johann Gebhart is inscribed on the inner face of the upper leaf. The object displays various technical features, including compartments for storing the brass arm and the pin gnomon.
The lower leaf also bears a series of punched marks near the hinge.
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
- 1561
- Type
- Nuremberg diptych dial
- Maker
- Johann Gebhart
- Material
- Ivory and brass
- Dimensions
- 55 x 89 x 13 mm
- Time systems
- Common, Italian, Babylonian
- Place recorded
- Germany
- Place of origin
- Nuremberg
- Maker / attribution
- Johann Gebhart
Design
- Visible features
- • Ivory and brass construction • Integrated compass with glass dial • Multiple pin and string gnomon dial layouts • Presence of punched '3' markings on the lower leaf near the hinge
- Construction and Design
- The diptych sundial is composed of two ivory leaves connected by a hinge, with brass components integrated throughout the instrument. The interior displays a complex array of dials, including pin gnomon dials and string gnomon dials, calibrated for common, Italian, and Babylonian hours. Decoration is applied across the surfaces, incorporating star patterns, geometrical motifs, and a sun effigy. The outer face of the upper leaf also features a pin gnomon dial alongside a latitude table for eighteen towns. The lower leaf serves as the base for the compass, which is marked with cardinal directions in Latin: 'OST', 'S', and 'WEST'. Storage compartments are incorporated into the design to house the loose brass arm and the pin gnomon when the instrument is closed.
- Signatures and Markings
- The dial bears the explicit signature of its maker, Johann Gebhart, positioned prominently on the inner face of the upper leaf along with the date of manufacture. The text reads '[star] IOHANN [star] GEBHART [star] [star] NORENBERGE [star] FACIEBAT [star]', indicating his work in Nuremberg. Further identifying marks include a series of the number '3', which is punched five times into the lower leaf near the hinge. The instrument also features various inscriptions related to its timekeeping functions and geographical orientations, such as 'OCCASVS', 'SEPTE NTRIO', and 'ORTVS'. Maker's marks and initials are located on the exterior of the lower leaf, providing additional evidence of the object's origin and attribution within the tradition of Nuremberg ivory dial makers.
- Condition and Completeness
- The physical state of the instrument shows evidence of wear and missing original components. The pin gnomon required for the outer face of the upper leaf is currently absent. Similarly, the brass arm, intended for use with the internal dials, is no longer present within its designated compartment. The compass glass is noted as being slivered, reflecting the age of the instrument. Despite these losses, the inscriptions and dial markings remain legible. The object is catalogued by the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, under inventory number 63463. Research by P. Gouk regarding Nuremberg ivory sundials provides context for this type of instrument, though specific historical usage remains tied to the functional capacity of its surviving dial systems.
Identification
- Inventory number
- 63463
- 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: Missing pin gnomon on the outer face of the upper leaf
- Research required: Missing brass arm
- Research required: The purpose of the hole drilled through the lower leaf is unknown and likely a recent modification