Horizontal Dial by Camillo della Volpaia
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1542
This horizontal dial, crafted from boxwood and measuring 152 x 94 mm, is a scientific instrument produced in 1542. It is signed by Camillo della Volpaia, who continued the instrument-making activities of his father, Lorenzo della Volpaia.
The instrument is designed for the latitude of Florence, approximately 43° 44'. Its layout features a rectangular wooden table incorporating a compass, which is central to the design. A collapsible brass support for a banner-shaped wind vane is positioned above the compass. The instrument also includes a pin-gnomon dial calibrated specifically for Italian hours, marked from IX to XXIII. The compass is surrounded by a complex system of twenty-four wind direction names and an outer ring identifying eight cardinal and intercardinal compass directions in Italian.
This object is currently held within the collection of the Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza in Florence.
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
- 1542
- Type
- Italian horizontal dial
- Maker
- Camillo della Volpaia
- Latitude
- 43° 44'
- Material
- Boxwood
- Dimensions
- 152 x 94 mm
- Place recorded
- Italy
- Maker / attribution
- Camillo della Volpaia
Design
- Visible features
- • Collapsible banner-style brass wind vane • Twenty-four Latin wind directions surrounding compass • Eight Italian compass point names in an outer ring • Pin-gnomon dial for Italian hours
- Maker and Attribution
- The instrument is signed by Camillo della Volpaia. The provenance and historical context identify him as one of the sons of Lorenzo della Volpaia. The inventory number for this specific object is 2488, and it is currently held at the Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza in Florence. The signature is placed near the south edge of the instrument, proximal to the pin-gnomon dial.
- Dials and Inscriptions
- The surface of the dial features a pin-gnomon arrangement located on the south edge of the board. This specific dial is marked for Italian hours, with the indices running from IX to XXIII. These hours are left undivided on the wooden surface. Surrounding the central compass are two concentric rings of information. The inner ring displays a list of twenty-four winds recorded in Latin, while the outer ring lists eight compass directions in Italian, such as 'Tramontana', 'Levante', and 'Scirocco'. This navigational detail accompanies the solar timekeeping function provided by the pin-gnomon dial.
- Construction and Design
- The instrument is composed of a rectangular boxwood base measuring 152 by 94 mm. It functions primarily as a horizontal sundial calibrated for the latitude of 43° 44', which relates to the city of Florence. The upper surface of the boxwood block serves as the table for the various astronomical and navigational markings. Central to the device is an inset compass. Above this compass, a folding brass structure supports a small banner-shaped wind vane.
Identification
- Inventory
- 2488
- 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: Specific functionality of the pin-gnomon in present condition
- Research required: The exact provenance beyond the listed inventory location