Horizontal Dial by Christoph Trechsler
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1613
This 1613 gilt brass horizontal dial was made in Dresden by Christoph Trechsler. Measuring 15 x 58 x 61 mm, the object functions as a portable timekeeping device adjustable for three specific latitudes.
The exterior lid features a pierced lunar volvelle with an aspectarium, surrounded by names of the twelve principal winds in Latin and spandrel decorations of flowers and fruits. The interior lid is engraved with an allegorical representation of 'GEOMETRIA', featuring a woman holding dividers. The base contains a central compass marked with cardinal point initials, set within a silver plate featuring hour lines for latitudes 48°, 51°, and 52°.
The exterior of the box features decorative arabesque and geometrical motifs. The instrument is signed on the catch with the abbreviation 'C ? T ? D ? E ? M ? 1613', expanded by the source as Christoph Trechsler der Elter Mechanicus.
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
- 1613
- Type
- German horizontal dial
- Maker
- Christoph Trechsler
- Material
- Gilt brass
- Latitudes
- 48, 51 and 52 degrees
- Signature
- C ? T ? D ? E ? M ? 1613
- Place recorded
- Germany
- Compass markers
- SE, OR, ME, OC
- Maker / attribution
- Christoph Trechsler
Design
- Visible features
- • Internal compass marked SE, OR, ME, OC • Engraved figure of Geometria on interior lid • Latitudinal adjustment holes at 48, 51, 52 degrees • Floral and geometric engraved exterior decoration
- Signatures and Provenance
- The object is signed by the maker on the closure catch. The inscription is engraved in an abbreviated form: 'C ? T ? D ? E ? M ? 1613'. The museum documentation interprets this as referring to Christoph Trechsler der Elter Mechanicus. The base of the instrument includes a table of latitudes covering 24 different locations, suggesting its utility as a travel device.
- Interior Mechanism and Dialing
- The interior lid features an allegorical engraving of 'GEOMETRIA', depicted as a woman holding a pair of dividers. Below this, the instrument contains a central compass marked with the cardinal point initials 'SE', 'OR', 'ME', and 'OC'. The silver plate inside the box is engraved with hour lines ranging from 4 to 12 to 8. These lines are configured to accommodate three specific latitudes (48°, 51°, and 52°), and are divided into half-hour increments. Adjustment holes are provided on the lid to accommodate the string used as a gnomon for these settings.
- Construction and Exterior Features
- The instrument is constructed from gilt brass, measuring 15 mm in height, 58 mm in width, and 61 mm in length. Its exterior design incorporates both functional and decorative elements. The top of the lid serves as a housing for a pierced lunar volvelle, which includes an aspectarium and is ringed by Latin inscriptions identifying twelve principal winds, such as 'AQVILO' and 'ZEPHIRVS'. The spandrel areas of the lid are adorned with engraved floral and fruit motifs. Further decorative detailing is present on the edges of the box, which feature engraved arabesques and geometric patterns. The closure mechanism is secured by a catch, which also serves as the location for the maker's signature.
Identification
- Inventory
- 49305
- 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 specific attribution of the abbreviation on the catch relies on historical expansion by the source
- Research required: The current string used as a gnomon may not be original to the 1613 construction