Horizontal string-gnomon dial by Ulrich Schniep
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1568
This horizontal sundial, crafted in Munich in 1568, is signed with the initials 'VS' by the maker Ulrich Schniep. Constructed from gilt and silvered brass, the instrument measures 75 x 63 x 11 mm and comprises a hinged, lidded box containing a horizontal string-gnomon dial.
The dial plate features a scale of hours from 4 to 12 to 8, with half-hour marks, and includes an inset 30 mm diameter compass. A decorated, sprung gnomon support houses a plummet. The interior of the hinged lid features a wind rose, hour scale, and a rotating index. Exterior surfaces are embellished with engravings, including a goddess on a sea serpent on the lid and strapwork and foliage motifs on the underside. The sundial remains with its original leather-covered pasteboard case, originating from the Billmeir Collection.
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
- 1568
- Type
- German horizontal dial
- Maker
- Ulrich Schniep
- Location
- Munich
- Material
- Gilt and silvered brass
- Signature
- VS
- Dimensions
- 75 x 63 x 11 mm
- Provenance
- Billmeir Collection
- Place recorded
- Germany
- Maker / attribution
- Ulrich Schniep
Design
- Visible features
- • Internal wind rose features Latin and German inscriptions • Sprung gnomon support contains a suspended plummet • Compass marked with directional cross and variation • Exterior displays strapwork and foliage engraving
- Signatures and Provenance
- The maker is identified by the initials 'VS' engraved upon the dial plate. Historical records attribute the instrument to the Munich-based craftsman Ulrich Schniep. The signature is accompanied by the date '1568' framed by stars. The history of the object is documented through the Billmeir Collection, listed with the reference 57-84/196. The instrument is currently maintained by the Museum of the History of Science in Oxford, recorded under inventory number 39935.
- Construction and Dial Design
- The instrument is housed in a gilt and silvered brass box featuring a hinged lid secured by a clasp. The primary horizontal dial is situated within the main box and utilizes a string gnomon supported by an ornate, sprung mechanism. This support also facilitates the use of an integral plummet. The silvered dial plate is calibrated for the latitude of 48 degrees, indicated as 'ELEVATCIO POLI 48 GR:', and bears the hour scale ranging from 4 through 12 to 8, with individual markings for half hours. The internal face of the hinged lid serves as an additional scientific tool, featuring a wind rose with cardinal directions labeled in Latin alongside German terms for the eight principal directions. A rotating index is provided at the center, surrounded by a secondary scale of hours and a series of inscriptions relating the classical winds to traditional weather forecasts.
- Exterior Decoration and Compass
- The outer surfaces of the sundial exhibit detailed metalwork. The lid displays an oval engraving depicting a goddess riding a sea serpent, accompanied by a ship in the background, all framed by foliage. The base of the instrument is decorated with strapwork and foliage engraving, consistent with the lid's decorative scheme. The 30 mm diameter inset compass is positioned on the main plate. It is oriented with a cross of directions marked 'S', 'OR', 'M', and 'OC' and includes specific markings for magnetic variation. The entire assembly, including the dial and compass, is accompanied by a leather-covered pasteboard case, which is preserved with the instrument.
Identification
- 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: Variation of compass not specified in historical context
- Research required: Exact nature of the weather predictions indicated on the lid