Nocturnal And Sundial, circa 1600 (7f8528)
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1600
This gilt brass, 52 mm diameter instrument combines a nocturnal and a vertical disc sundial. It is unsigned and attributed to French manufacture circa 1600. The nocturnal face features an outer zodiac scale, a moveable ring divided into hours, a date scale, and a lunar volvelle with a scale for the age of the moon.
It incorporates a small horizontal sundial with a folding gnomon and a compass box, although the needle is missing. The sundial face consists of a vertical disc dial with a pivoted index arm and a folding gnomon, accompanied by calendar and hour scales. Additionally, the instrument contains a volvelle on the sundial side that identifies favourable and unfavourable days of the year. The instrument is provided with an original shaped and lined leather case with brass fittings.
The object is held in the collection of 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
- circa 1600
- Type
- French nocturnal and sundial
- Origin
- French
- Diameter
- 52 mm
- Material
- Gilt brass
- Accessories
- Leather case
- Place recorded
- France
- Compass markings
- O, M, O, S
Design
- Visible features
- • The instrument is suspended by a decorative handle with a shackle and ring. • The nocturnal side features an index arm engraved 'LIGNE DE FOY'. • A compass box is mounted on the nocturnal face with cardinal points marked 'O', 'M', 'O', 'S'. • The sundial face includes a volvelle for calculating favourable and unfavourable days.
- Provenance and Condition
- The instrument is catalogued under inventory number 52632 at the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford. It is described as being more complete than a comparable instrument in the same collection (Epact 68501), specifically regarding the presence of the compass. The instrument is accompanied by its original shaped and lined leather case equipped with brass fittings. The overall condition reflects the historical nature of the object, noting the absence of the compass needle and the ambiguous nature of the numeric inscription. The object is presented as an unsigned instrument, with its origins attributed generally to the French tradition of scientific instrument making at the turn of the 17th century.
- Sundial Face and Volvelle
- The reverse side features a vertical disc sundial incorporating a pivoted index arm and a folding gnomon. The disc includes calendar scales with month abbreviations in French and a scale for ordinary hours marked in Roman numerals. The gnomon and index arm are attached to a central rotating disc designed for reading across circular scales. This central disc features an inscription differentiating between 'les jours hereux' (favourable days) and 'les jours perileux' (unfavourable days). The scales are further marked with 'LE' or 'LEP' and 'L' or 'LP' followed by numbers. A cartouche on the instrument contains the sequence '15917', though its interpretation remains unresolved.
- Nocturnal Face and Components
- The nocturnal face comprises an outer zodiac scale inscribed with constellation names. Within this, a moveable ring is supported by two diametric bars and divided into 24 hour points. Beneath this ring sits a date scale with month names and numerical days, intended for use alongside the zodiac signs; the source notes that the first point of Aries corresponds to 20 March. The face also includes a lunar volvelle with a scale representing the age of the moon from 1 to 29. A small horizontal sundial with a folding gnomon is positioned above the ring, alongside a circular compass box. While the compass lid pivots, the needle is currently missing from the instrument. An extended index arm, inscribed 'LIGNE DE FOY', facilitates the use of the nocturnal function.
Identification
- Inventory number
- 52632
- 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 date of origin is cited as 'circa 1600 ?', indicating uncertainty regarding its exact manufacture period.
- Research required: The significance of the number '15917' found in a cartouche remains unclear.