Nuremberg Diptych Dial, Late 15th century
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
Late 15th century
This unsigned diptych sundial is attributed to Nuremberg and dates to the late 15th century. It is constructed from ivory featuring a distinct herring-bone grain, measuring 95 by 75 by 15 mm.
The instrument consists of two leaves hinged together. The upper leaf displays a relief carving of St. John the Baptist on its exterior and a vertical string gnomon dial on its interior, calibrated for approximately 48 degrees latitude. The lower leaf has a plain exterior and an interior featuring a horizontal string gnomon dial with a central empty compass well and a geometrical pattern at the base. The dial's engravings are highlighted with red and black color.
It is recognized as potentially one of the earliest surviving instruments of its type, based on comparisons with similar early dials. The object is currently held by the British Museum, having been presented by A.W. Franks in 1877.
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
- Late 15th century
- Type
- Nuremberg diptych dial
- Maker
- Unsigned
- Latitude
- Approximately 48 degrees
- Location
- British Museum, London
- Dimensions
- 95 x 75 x 15 mm
- Provenance
- A.W. Franks, 1877
- Place recorded
- Germany
Design
- Visible features
- • Ivory with a herring-bone grain pattern • Red and black pigment in engraved lines • Empty compass well at center of lower leaf • Relief carving of St. John the Baptist on outer leaf
- Horological Function
- The instrument is a dual-dial sundial designed for operation at a latitude of approximately 48 degrees, corresponding to Nuremberg. The vertical and horizontal string gnomon dials allow for time-telling by referencing the position of the sun. The presence of an empty compass well suggests the original integration of a magnetic compass for orientation, although it is no longer present. Though the instrument lacks an original date, researchers have attributed it to the late 15th century. This dating is derived from comparative analysis with other early dials of this period, and it is considered to be among the earliest known surviving examples of such ivory diptych dials.
- Construction and Design
- The diptych sundial is constructed from ivory characterized by an unusual herring-bone grain pattern. It consists of an upper and lower leaf joined by hinges. The external surface of the upper leaf features a relief carving of St. John the Baptist, while the exterior of the lower leaf is plain. The engravings throughout the instrument are filled with red and black color, providing visual definition to the hour scales and geometric motifs. The interior of the upper leaf contains a vertical string gnomon dial with hours numbered anticlockwise from VI to XII to VI. The interior of the lower leaf features a horizontal string gnomon dial, with hours numbered IIII to XII to VIII. At the center of the lower leaf lies an empty compass well, and the lower portion is decorated with a simple geometrical pattern. The overall dimensions of the instrument are 95 by 75 by 15 mm.
- Provenance and Documentation
- The dial was acquired by the British Museum in 1877 following a donation by A.W. Franks. It is recorded under the inventory number MLA 1877,5-21.23. The instrument has been documented in established academic literature concerning scientific instruments. It appears in F. A. B. Ward’s catalogue of European Scientific Instruments in the Department of Medieval and Later Antiquities at the British Museum (1981) and is referenced in P. Gouk's study of Nuremberg ivory sundials (1988). These records confirm its history and scholarly association with the British Museum collection.
Identification
- Reference
- MLA 1877,5-21.23
- 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: Dating based on comparison with other early dials rather than an explicit inscription
- Research required: Exact original function of the empty compass well not stated