Nocturnal and Sundial, circa 1600
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1600
This compact horological instrument, crafted from gilt brass and measuring 57 mm in diameter, is a multifunctional device combining two sundials, a nocturnal, and a lunar volvelle.
The object is unsigned and attributed to French origin around 1600. The nocturnal face features an outer zodiac scale and a moveable ring divided into 24 points to represent hours, designed for use in the dark. Beneath this ring is a date scale and a lunar volvelle with a scale from 1 to 29 for moon age. The disc is pierced to indicate lunar phases and includes an index arm marked 'LIGNE DE FOI'. The secondary side incorporates a vertical disc sundial with a folding gnomon, adjustable calendar scales, and two scales for reading ordinary and Italian hours.
It is finished with a shaped, pierced suspension throne and a raised blank shield.
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
- circa 1600
- Type
- French nocturnal and sundial
- Origin
- French
- Diameter
- 57 mm
- Material
- Gilt brass
- Place recorded
- France
- Condition detail
- Raised blank shield
- Nocturnal feature
- Hour points for tactile use
Design
- Visible features
- • Gilt brass construction • Pierced disc for moon phases • Shaped suspension throne • Folding sundial gnomon
- Sundial Configuration
- The device functions as a vertical disc sundial, featuring a pivoted index arm that supports a folding gnomon. To ensure precision, the user adjusts the gnomon based on a date scale marked with month initials, which is further divided into quarter-month segments. This enables the device to accommodate the changing position of the sun throughout the year. Two distinct hour scales are provided on the opposite side of the vertical disc. One scale facilitates the reading of ordinary hours, while the other is calibrated for Italian hours. The ordinary hours are divided to the quarter, while the Italian hours are marked to the half-hour, supporting different regional timekeeping standards prevalent during the period.
- Nocturnal and Lunar Functions
- The nocturnal component is engineered for nighttime timekeeping without visual aid. It lacks numerical hour indicators, relying instead on 24 tactile points arranged around a movable ring. This allows users to count hours in darkness. An index arm labeled 'LIGNE DE FOI' serves as a guide for settings, extending towards the zodiac scale. Integration with a lunar volvelle provides additional astronomical utility. This portion of the device includes a scale numbered 1 to 29 to track the moon's age. The disc is pierced to visually communicate lunar phases, and the internal date scale links the calendar to the zodiac signs, where the first point of Aries corresponds to 10 March.
- Physical Description and Suspension
- The instrument is constructed from gilt brass, measuring 57 mm in diameter. Its overall design prioritizes portability and functionality, utilizing a shaped, pierced throne that serves as an attachment point for a suspension ring. A raised, blank shield is integrated into the metalwork, offering a decorative element that remains unengraved. The overall assembly relies on traditional metal forming and piercing techniques to create the various overlapping scales and moveable parts required for the instrument's complex astronomical functions.
Identification
- Inventory Number
- 45450
- 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 and exact maker remain unidentified beyond the attribution of French origin.
- Research required: The 'LIGNE DE FOI' inscription is partially unclear in the source text transcription.