Hans Troschel Diptych Dial
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1586
This diptych sundial, constructed in the form of a book measuring 70 x 55 x 12 mm, is crafted from ivory and brass. Signed by Hans Troschel and dated 1586, the instrument originates from Nuremberg.
The exterior features engraved, coloured figures, including St. Helena holding a cross on the upper leaf and a bearded Constantine in Roman armour on the lower leaf. Internally, the upper leaf contains a pin gnomon dial, though the pin itself is missing. It displays markings for Italian and Babylonian hours alongside an engraved Latin inscription. The lower leaf houses a compass, currently missing its needle, ring, and glass, and features two horizontal string gnomon dials calibrated for common hours.
The edges of the ivory leaves are decorated with geometrical motifs, and two conical holes are provided for stowing pins.
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
- 1586
- Type
- Nuremberg diptych dial
- Maker
- Hans Troschel
- Material
- Ivory and brass
- Dimensions
- 70 x 55 x 12 mm
- Provenance
- Museum of the History of Science, Oxford
- Inscription
- SIC TRANSIT GLORIA MUNDI: AD LATITUD GRAD 51 MI 30 ANNO DOMINI M D L X X X V I
- Place recorded
- Nuremberg
- Compass markings
- SE, OR, ME, OC
- Maker / attribution
- Hans Troschel
Design
- Visible features
- • Geometrical motif decoration on ivory edges • Two conical holes for stowage of pins • Engraved Latin inscription on upper inner leaf • Punched mark of maker on the lower leaf exterior
- Exterior and Iconography
- The exterior of the diptych dial features figurative engravings on both the upper and lower leaves. These figures are rendered in green and red colours. The upper leaf depicts St. Helena, identified by the cross she holds in her right hand. The lower leaf features Constantine, described as a bearded man dressed in Roman armour, holding a pennant. The lower leaf exterior also displays the maker's mark. The edges of the ivory book are detailed with a geometrical motif. Two conical holes are present on the object, serving as storage for the dial's pins.
- Provenance and Documentation
- The instrument is part of the collection at the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, identified by inventory number 70006. It is catalogued as an example of an ivory diptych dial from Nuremberg, dated 1586. The object has been referenced in academic studies regarding the history of ivory sundials from the Nuremberg region. The museum maintains strict rights over the documentation and reproduction of the images and information provided for this object. The scholarly context for this specific piece is situated within the broader study of sixteenth and seventeenth-century Nuremberg ivory dials.
- Internal Dialling and Inscriptions
- The interior upper leaf is equipped with a pin gnomon dial, although the gnomon itself is missing. This dial is calibrated for Italian hours, marked 13 to 24, and Babylonian hours, which are marked in red from 1 to 11. Below these markings, the surface bears the Latin inscription 'SIC TRANSIT GLORIA MUNDI: AD LATITUD GRAD 51 MI 30 ANNO DOMINI M D L X X X V I'. The lower leaf contains a compass, which is missing its needle, ring, and glass. The cardinal points are marked as 'SE', 'OR', 'ME', and 'OC'. Additionally, two horizontal string gnomon dials are integrated into the lower section, designed to indicate common hours from 4 a.m. to noon and from noon to 8 p.m.
Identification
- Reference
- 70006
- 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 for the upper leaf gnomon dial
- Research required: Missing compass needle, ring, and glass