Horizontal Sundial by Ulrich Schniep
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1570
This 1570 horizontal sundial is signed by Ulrich Schniep and produced in Munich. Constructed from gilt and silvered brass, it measures 63 x 50 x 11 mm. The instrument takes the form of a box with a friction-clasped lid.
The exterior surfaces are finished with engraved decoration, including the god Mercury between columns on the cover, foliage on the sides, and strapwork and foliage on the base. The interior houses two distinct timekeeping mechanisms: a horizontal pin-gnomon dial for Italian hours and length-of-day indications, and a horizontal string-gnomon dial for ordinary equal hours. The latter incorporates a decorated folding gnomon support with a plummet.
An inset compass, 20 mm in diameter, is integrated into the dial plate. The instrument reflects the multi-functional approach of Schniep’s work, combining practical timekeeping and calendrical calculation within a portable, highly decorated format.
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
- 1570
- Type
- German horizontal dial
- Maker
- Ulrich Schniep
- Material
- Gilt and silvered brass
- Dimensions
- 63 x 50 x 11 mm
- Provenance
- Lewis Evans Collection G. 381
- Place recorded
- Germany
- Maker / attribution
- Ulrich Schniep
- Place of manufacture
- Munich
Design
- Visible features
- • The folding gnomon support contains an integrated plummet. • The compass bowl is labelled with directions S, OR, M, and OC. • The base of the sundial is decorated with foliage and strapwork engravings. • The pin-gnomon dial face includes markings for Tropicus Cancri and Tropicus Capricorni.
- Signatures and Provenance
- The dial bears signatures attributed to Ulrich Schniep in two locations. On the pin-gnomon dial plate, the signature represented as [star] VS [star] and the date 1570 are located above a cartouche containing an inscription relating to Italian hours and the length of the day. A secondary signature, also marked [star] VS [star], appears near the southern end of the string-gnomon dial, adjacent to a latitude marking of 46 degrees. The instrument is currently held by the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, under inventory number 42561. Its provenance is identified as the Lewis Evans Collection, specifically piece G. 381.
- External Decoration and Form
- The instrument is constructed as a compact box finished in gilt and silvered brass, measuring 63 by 50 by 11 mm. It features a friction-clasped lid designed to protect the internal dial components. The external surfaces are used for extensive ornamental engraving, which is consistent with the design approach found in other instruments by Ulrich Schniep. The cover lid depicts an engraving of the god Mercury positioned between two architectural columns. The perimeter of the box displays foliage engravings, while the base is finished with strapwork and foliage patterns. The overall design prioritizes decorative elements on the exterior, relegating the operational timekeeping components to the inner surfaces of the box and lid.
- Internal Dials and Instrumentation
- The interior of the box features two distinct sundials. The underside of the lid contains a horizontal pin-gnomon dial marked for Italian hours ranging from XI to XXII. This section also serves a calendrical function, with numerical lines from 8 to 16 indicating the length of the day and night between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. The main body of the box contains a horizontal string-gnomon dial for determining equal hours. This dial is silvered and numbered from 5 to 12 to 7, including half-hour marks. The gnomon support is designed to fold and incorporates a plummet for levelling. Additionally, a 20 mm compass is inset into the plate, featuring a cross of direction marked S, OR, M, and OC, and is calibrated for magnetic variation.
Identification
- Inventory Number
- 42561
- 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 provenance is stated as the Lewis Evans Collection, but the source does not provide a comprehensive ownership history.
- Research required: The source identifies the signature as '[star] VS [star]', attributed to Ulrich Schniep, without explaining the abbreviation.