Multi-dial brass and silvered astronomical compendium
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
18th/19th century
This multi-dial astronomical compendium is constructed from brass and silvered metal, dated by the auction house to the 18th or 19th century. Built as a cylindrical tiered case decorated with an acid-etched pattern, it comprises five compartments holding eight dials in total.
The source reports that its dials display moon phases, high and low tides, a sundial, a compass, and astrological plates designed for horoscopes and fortune-telling regarding auspicious and inauspicious days. At its base, a cartouche features incised characters reading Masanori, which the catalog notes as probably the maker's name.
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
- Type
- Astronomical compendium
- Dimensions
- Height 10.3 cm, diameter 8.9 cm
- Place recorded
- Japan
- Case construction
- Cylindrical tiered case decorated with an acid-etched pattern, consisting of five compartments
- Maker inscription
- Incised cartouche with characters Masanori on the base
- Dials and functions
- Eight dials displaying moon phases, tides, compass, sundial, and astrological plates
- Maker / attribution
- Masanori
Design
- Visible features
- • Circular brass sections with rope-twist bezel borders • Engraved silvered dial faces displaying kanji characters, tidal wave motifs, and a sun or moon disc • Acid-etched mottle-patterned exterior on brass cylindrical rims labeled with small number tags 4 and 5
- Attribution and Dating
- A cartouche on the base contains incised characters reading 'Masanori', which the source identifies as the probable name of the maker. The object is dated to the 18th or 19th century.
- Construction and Exterior Decoration
- The object is described as a cylindrical tiered case composed of five compartments. The exterior is finished with an acid-etched pattern. The construction includes circular brass sections featuring rope-twist borders on the bezels. Small numerical tags, specifically '4' and '5', are present on the brass cylindrical rims.
- Dial Configuration and Functional Scope
- The compendium contains eight dials total. The dials feature silvered metal surfaces engraved with kanji characters, tidal wave motifs, and depictions of a sun or moon disc. The instrument is reported to include functions for tracking moon phases, high and low tides, a compass, and a sundial. Additionally, it contains astrological plates intended for horoscopes and fortune-telling concerning auspicious and inauspicious days.
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: Maker attribution to Masanori is based on an incised cartouche described by the auction house as probably the maker's name.
- Research required: Not all five compartments and eight dials are simultaneously visible in this single photograph.