Horizontal Dial by Carlo Plato, 1588
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1588
This horizontal dial is a circular brass instrument, 75 mm in diameter, attributed to the maker Carlo Plato of Rome and dated 1588. The device features a central aperture for a pivoted compass, though the magnetic needle is currently missing.
The instrument is designed for use on either side of the brass plate. One face contains two pin-gnomon dials calibrated for Italian hours across latitudes 42° and 45°, supplemented by inscriptions designating the location as Rome and listing wind directions in Italian around the border. The reverse side holds four additional pin-gnomon dials configured for various latitudes, including 36° and 48°, and incorporates both Italian and common hour markings.
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
- 1588
- Type
- Italian horizontal dial
- Maker
- Carlo Plato
- Origin
- Italy
- Dimensions
- 75 mm diameter
- Object type
- Horizontal Dial
- Place recorded
- Italy
- Maker / attribution
- Carlo Plato
Design
- Visible features
- • The central compass housing is present but lacks the magnetic needle. • Multiple pin-gnomon positions are visible on the plate surface for different latitudes. • Engraved wind names are located around the outer border of the plate. • The instrument is constructed from a thin circular brass plate.
- Construction and Design
- The instrument is a circular brass plate measuring 75 mm in diameter. It is designed to be used on either side, featuring a central void which originally housed a pivoted compass, though the needle is now lost. The plate is densely engraved with multiple pin-gnomon dials, allowing for time calculation across varying latitudes. The borders of both sides are annotated with the names of winds, including 'Lev ate', 'Si rocco', and 'Tramo tana', providing orientation data for the user.
- Attribution and Provenance
- The dial is held by the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, under inventory number 46744. It is formally attributed to the Roman maker Carlo Plato based on its similarity to other catalogued instruments in the museum's collection. The specific inscription 'Roma anno 1588' provides a confirmed production date and suggests the location of the maker during the time of the instrument's manufacture.
- Dial Calibration and Usage
- The dial is configured for diverse geographical applications. One side includes dials for latitudes 42° and 45°, specifically marked 'Polus 42 Gra duum' and 'Ad Latitudine Graduu 45', serving Italian hours ranging from 9 to 23. The reverse side hosts four additional dials for latitudes 36° and 48°. These displays include markings for common hours as well as Italian hours, demonstrating the instrument's capacity to convert between different timekeeping systems depending on the user's location.
Identification
- Accession number
- 46744
- 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 magnetic compass needle is explicitly noted as missing.
- Research required: The attribution to Carlo Plato is based on stylistic comparison to other instruments, not a signature on this specific piece.