Horizontal Sundial, 1542
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1542
This 177 x 84 mm rectangular horizontal sundial is crafted from boxwood and housed in an ebony frame. Attributed to the workshop of Camillo della Volpaia, the instrument is dated 1542 and originates from Florence.
The dial features a pin-gnomon for Italian hours, marked with tropic lines and zodiac scales. A compass is inset into the base, displaying a hand-painted map of Italy including Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica, complete with a straight compass needle featuring a T-shaped end. Decorative elements include a folding mount shaped like a monstrous fish supporting a plumb bob and an angel-shaped wind vane. The reverse contains a solar course diagram and astrological signs.
The ebony frame is decorated with a gilded Italian motto, and further inscriptions appear on the dial plate. The object is held by the Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza in Florence.
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
- 1542
- Type
- Italian horizontal dial
- Origin
- Florence
- Dimensions
- 177 x 84 mm
- Place recorded
- Italy
- Compass Decoration
- Hand-painted map of Italy
- Maker / attribution
- Attributed to Camillo della Volpaia
Design
- Visible features
- • Painted map of Italy within the compass bowl • Angel-shaped wind vane and fish-shaped folding mount • Ebony frame with gold-lettered inscription • Rubricated markings on the dial plate
- Attribution and Condition
- While the sundial is not signed, it is attributed to the workshop of Camillo della Volpaia. Comparisons are drawn between this instrument and other signed examples by Camillo della Volpaia from 1542, particularly regarding the layout and the use of the inscription-carrying scroll. However, the exact letter forms do not permit a definitive attribution to any specific member of the della Volpaia family. The object retains traces of rubrication on its incised dial lines, decorative flowers, and date. The museum records that the instrument is held within the collection of the Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza in Florence.
- Dial Construction and Layout
- The instrument is built upon a rectangular boxwood base, measuring 177 by 84 mm, which houses a horizontal pin-gnomon sundial. The dial is configured for Italian hours, ranging from 9 to 24, and includes markings for the equinoctial, the meridian line, and the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. The sides of the dial are framed by the two halves of a zodiac scale. The southern half of the instrument features an inset compass. The base of this compass is decorated with a painted map of the Italian mainland, Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica, noting the central mountain range and several specific cities. Above the compass bowl, a folding mount in the form of a monstrous fish provides a support for an angel-shaped wind vane.
- Inscriptions and Reverse Features
- The reverse side of the wooden plate contains a circular solar course diagram. Positioned above this is a rampant Capricorn figure within a circle that incorporates astrological signs for the days of the week. This display is encircled by an elliptical scroll bearing the Latin inscription, 'DAT PLANETA DIEM. HORAM. DAT GRESSVS IN ORBE'. The ebony frame enclosing the dial plate is inscribed in gold on three sides with an Italian motto: 'LOCO TEMPO STAGION FVGGER DEL HORE SOFFIAR DE VENTI QUE LA CALAMITA SI VOLGE SEMPRE VEDER PVOI SIGNORE'. Additionally, the compass rim is marked with an eight-point wind-rose featuring directional labels such as 'Meridional' and 'Tramontana'.
Identification
- Inventory Number
- 2503
- 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: Attribution to Camillo della Volpaia is based on stylistic comparison rather than a signature
- Research required: Exact authorship remains uncertain due to insufficient letter-form evidence
- Research required: The heraldry on the ship may be the Medici arms but is not confirmed