Horizontal string-gnomon sundial by Markus Purmann
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1597
This German horizontal sundial, crafted from gilt and silvered brass, measures 54 x 32 x 11 mm. Created by Markus Purmann in 1597, the instrument features a rectangular box with a hinged lid.
The lid incorporates a suspension ring that also acts as a locking mechanism. The interior of the lid contains a volvelle with a circular hour scale and a central rotating index. The main body of the instrument houses a string-gnomon sundial with a folding, decorated support equipped with a plummet. The base includes an inset compass with a silvered bowl marked for magnetic variation. The dial plate displays hours from 4 to 12 to 8, calibrated for a specific latitude of 48 degrees.
The exterior surfaces of the brass box are finished with detailed engravings, including foliage, flowers, and an urn. The instrument is part of the Lewis Evans Collection held at the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford.
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
- 1597
- Type
- German horizontal dial
- Maker
- Markus Purmann
- Latitude
- 48 degrees
- Material
- Gilt and silvered brass
- Dimensions
- 54 x 32 x 11 mm
- Provenance
- Lewis Evans Collection
- Place recorded
- Germany
- Compass Diameter
- 21 mm
- Maker / attribution
- Markus Purmann
Design
- Visible features
- • The gnomon support features two soldiers with lances • The exterior sides are decorated with a leaf pattern • Cardinal directions are marked on the dial plate edges • The lid interior features a volvelle with a wind rose star
- Provenance and Documentation
- This object is part of the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, identified by inventory number 36320. It originated from the Lewis Evans Collection, documented under the reference G. 363. The museum notes that the function of the hour scale located on the interior of the cover is not currently known. The documentation identifies the maker through the signature found on the inner face of the cover, which combines the initials with the date of manufacture. The instrument is attributed to German manufacture based on the characteristics identified by the museum record.
- Construction and Functionality
- The instrument is constructed from gilt and silvered brass, forming a small rectangular box measuring 54 by 32 by 11 millimeters. It features a hinged lid secured by a suspension ring, which also functions as a locking mechanism for the cover. The horizontal sundial is positioned within the main box, utilizing a string gnomon supported by a hinged, decorative folding structure. This support is spring-loaded to maintain a vertical orientation and includes an integrated plummet. The internal dial plate is marked with a scale ranging from 4 to 12 to 8, with additional divisions for half-hour increments. A silvered-bowl compass, measuring 21 millimeters in diameter, is recessed into the base, marked to indicate magnetic variation. The latitude for which the dial is calibrated is stated on the plate as 48 degrees.
- Decorative Elements and Signatures
- The instrument is heavily decorated with engraved motifs across its exterior and interior surfaces. The lid's outer face displays an engraved urn surrounded by floral and foliage patterns, while the sides of the box feature a repeating leaf design. The maker, Markus Purmann, identified his work using a stylized monogram consisting of the initials 'MP' accompanied by the date 1597. The inner side of the cover features a volvelle consisting of a circular hour scale divided into half-hour segments, surrounding a central wind rose design with a rotating index. The edges of the dial plate are inscribed with the Latin names for the cardinal directions: 'SEPTENRIO', 'ORIENT', 'MERIDIES', and 'OCCIDENT'.
Identification
- Reference
- 36320
- 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 intended purpose of the volvelle hour scale on the cover remains uncertain
- Research required: The specific geographical location intended by the latitude 48 degrees remains unspecified