Nuremberg Diptych Dial, 1539
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1539
This Nuremberg diptych dial, held by the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, is constructed from ivory and gilt brass. Measuring 93 x 111 x 12 mm, the object features an upper and lower leaf configuration.
The upper leaf includes a nocturnal on the outer face and a pin gnomon dial on the inner side. The lower leaf houses a compass, now missing its needle and ring, with a decorative card painted in red, blue, and gold. The inner side of the lower leaf contains a dial with a folding brass gnomon and a pierced lunar volvelle. The dial displays cardinal points in the spandrels and includes a date at the bottom, originally inscribed as 1529 and later corrected to 1539.
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
- 1539
- Type
- Nuremberg diptych dial
- Compass
- Needle and ring missing
- Location
- Nuremberg
- Material
- Ivory and gilt brass
- Dimensions
- 93 x 111 x 12 mm
- Place recorded
- Germany
- Lower leaf features
- Pierced lunar volvelle and folding gnomon dial
- Upper leaf features
- Gilt brass nocturnal on outer, pin gnomon dial on inner
Design
- Visible features
- • Folding brass gnomon on the lower leaf interior • Compass card featuring red, blue, and gold pigment • Engraved cardinal point labels in the spandrel corners • Diptych design with two ivory leaves connected by hinges
- Compass and Condition
- Integrated into the lower leaf is a compass, which is currently missing its needle and ring. Despite the absence of these core mechanical components, the compass card remains present. It is described as being finely painted in red, blue, and gold, demonstrating the decorative attention applied to the instrument's functional elements. The condition of the object is noted by the loss of specific components, namely the pin for the upper gnomon and the needle assembly of the compass. The instrument is documented in academic literature concerning European scientific history.
- Construction and Layout
- The diptych dial is constructed primarily of ivory with gilt brass accents, presenting as a folding case measuring approximately 93 by 111 by 12 mm. The device is organized into two leaves, the upper and lower, which serve as the housing for several distinct time-telling features. The exterior of the lower leaf is described as blank, while the outer side of the upper leaf serves as a gilt brass nocturnal, a device used to determine time based on the position of stars at night. The inner faces are more complex, featuring multiple dials and indicators. The inner side of the upper leaf contains a pin gnomon dial, though the pin itself is missing. The lower leaf interior is equipped with a folding brass gnomon for measuring common hours, accompanied by a pierced lunar volvelle to track lunar phases. Cardinal points are marked in the spandrels as 'SEPTEMTRIO', 'ORIENS', 'MERIDIES', and 'OCCIDENS'.
- Inscriptions and Dating
- The dial contains clear markings that assist in its temporal classification. A significant feature is the date inscription found at the bottom of the lower leaf. The source notes that the device appears to have been originally dated 1529, which was subsequently corrected to 1539. The absence of a maker's mark leaves the specific origin within the Nuremberg craft tradition unattributed to a particular individual.
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: Missing pin gnomon on the upper leaf
- Research required: Missing compass needle and ring