Nuremberg Diptych Dial
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1600
This diptych dial is a portable sundial originating from Nuremberg, dated to approximately 1600. It measures 28 x 28 x 7 mm, dimensions that establish it as one of the smallest surviving examples of its type and the smallest in the collection of the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford.
The object is constructed from ivory and brass, configured in a book-like format featuring brass bun feet. The functional design incorporates an integrated compass and a pin gnomon dial calibrated for Italian hours. An unidentified maker's mark, resembling a bunch of grapes, is punched onto the lower leaf. The dial remains in an incomplete state with components missing, reflecting its historical preservation.
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
- Diptych sundial
- Origin
- Nuremberg
- Material
- Ivory and brass
- Dimensions
- 28 x 28 x 7 mm
- Maker's Mark
- Unidentified mark similar to a bunch of grapes
- Place recorded
- Germany
Design
- Visible features
- • Ivory construction featuring brass bun feet and hinges • Inner leaf decoration includes a central twelve-leaf flower inscribed in a circle • Pin gnomon dial surface engraved with Italian hour markers from 10 to 23 • Compass housing and pin gnomon are absent
- Construction and Design
- The diptych dial is crafted from ivory and incorporates brass elements, including hinges and bun feet. The instrument is designed as a small book, a form factor that allows for portability. Its compact size is a primary characteristic, measuring 28 mm by 28 mm by 7 mm. The exterior surfaces feature blind-tooling decoration, while the interior surfaces are adorned with specific motifs. The inner part of the upper leaf features a twelve-leaf flower design inscribed within a circle. The lower leaf integrates a compass housing and a dial plate marked for Italian hours, accompanied by a star motif in two varying sizes.
- Identification and Marks
- The dial is unsigned, and while a maker's mark is present, it has not been positively identified. This mark is punched onto the outer side of the lower leaf and is described by researchers as resembling a bunch of grapes. The instrument is attributed to the Nuremberg region based on historical manufacturing context. It has been documented as a notable piece due to its exceptionally small scale, which positions it as a significant item within the Museum of the History of Science catalogue.
- Horological Functionality
- The device functions as a portable timekeeper using a pin gnomon to cast a shadow on the lower dial plate. The dial is specifically calibrated for Italian hours, which are numbered from 10 to 23. This method of timekeeping represents a specific regional tradition prevalent in European horology during the era. A compass is embedded within the lower leaf to orient the dial correctly. Currently, the instrument is incomplete; the glass, the compass needle, the ring, and the pin gnomon itself are missing from the assembly, limiting its current ability to function as a sundial.
Identification
- Inventory Number
- 42629
- 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 maker's identity remains unknown despite the presence of a punched mark
- Research required: The functional accuracy is compromised by missing components including the compass needle and gnomon pin