Horizontal Dial by Girolamo della Volpaia
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1576
This horizontal sundial, crafted from gilt brass, measures 125 x 110 mm and is signed by the Florentine instrument maker Girolamo della Volpaia. The instrument is dated 1576 and features a pin gnomon mounted on a flat, engraved brass plate.
The plate consists of three straight edges and one decoratively shaped edge featuring a suspension hole. The dial is calibrated to track Italian hours from 10 to 23. Inscriptions designate the tropics and the equator, specifically marked as 'TROPICVS CANCRI', 'TROPICVS CAPRICORNI', and 'AEQVINOCTIALIS LINEAE', accompanied by astrological symbols for Cancer, Capricorn, Libra, and Aries. A small compass is integrated into the plate, surrounded by a 32-point wind rose.
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
- 1576
- Type
- Italian horizontal dial
- Maker
- Girolamo della Volpaia
- Origin
- Florence
- Materials
- Gilt brass
- Dimensions
- 125 x 110 mm
- Dial markings
- Italian hours from 10 to 23
- Place recorded
- Italy
- Maker / attribution
- Girolamo della Volpaia
Design
- Visible features
- • Small compass mounted on the dial plate • Gilt brass surface with hand-engraved inscriptions • Irregular decorative edge with suspension hole • Wind rose with 32 directions
- Dial Plate Construction
- The horizontal dial is constructed from a gilt brass plate. It features three straight edges, while the fourth edge is designed with an irregular, decorative profile incorporating a suspension hole. The plate surface serves as the medium for all timekeeping calculations and navigational markings. The engraving includes specific lines for the Tropic of Cancer, Tropic of Capricorn, and the equator, labeled in Latin. Symbols representing the zodiac signs of Cancer, Capricorn, Libra, and Aries are positioned alongside these lines, providing astronomical reference points for the user.
- Navigation and Orientation
- A small compass is mounted directly onto the surface of the brass plate below the dial face. This component is designed to aid in the orientation of the instrument, allowing the user to align the dial correctly for accurate timekeeping. The compass is situated within a surrounding wind rose featuring 32 distinct directions. Eight of these directions are marked with the initials of wind names in Italian, providing further assistance for navigation and geographical orientation during the use of the dial.
- Signatures and Inscriptions
- The dial bears the formal signature of Girolamo della Volpaia at the top of the plate. The text is presented in Latin characters, attributing the work to the Florentine maker and providing the date of manufacture. Additional textual information is contained within a scrollwork design. The scrollwork includes specific details regarding the latitude for which the instrument was calibrated. The presence of these marks establishes the association with Rome and confirms the specific technical parameters of the instrument's design as intended by the maker.
Identification
- Inventory Number
- MLA 1894, 12-11.2
- 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 exact function of the suspension hole in relation to its primary use as a horizontal dial is not detailed
- Research required: The specific nature of the magnetic deviation calibration on the compass is not documented