Nuremberg Diptych Dial, 1543
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1543
This diptych dial is constructed from ivory and brass, measuring 55 x 87 x 14 mm. Produced in Nuremberg in 1543, it features multiple sundial configurations across its leaves.
The outer face of the upper leaf contains a table of latitudes for 14 towns and a pin gnomon dial. The inner side of the upper leaf presents a pin gnomon dial for Italian hours, a vertical string gnomon dial for common hours, and a further pin gnomon dial for common hours. The inner side of the lower leaf includes a compass vane, a string gnomon dial for common hours, and an additional pin gnomon dial displaying Italian and Babylonian hours.
The lower leaf incorporates a brass arm for latitude adjustment and a dedicated compartment for storing the pin. While the maker is unidentified, a sheep-shaped maker's mark is present on the outer lower leaf.
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
- 1543
- Type
- Nuremberg diptych dial
- Maker
- Unidentified; mark is a sheep
- Location
- Nuremberg
- Material
- Ivory and brass
- Dimensions
- 55 x 87 x 14 mm
- Provenance
- Museum of the History of Science, Oxford
- Inscriptions
- GOT ALLEI[N] [D]IE ERR; IS EX AD S{E}XTVM CLIMA HOROLOG I V I[N]TEGRV
- Place recorded
- Nuremberg
Design
- Visible features
- • Maker's mark in the form of a sheep on outer lower leaf • Brass latitude adjustment arm on lower leaf • Compartment at the bottom edge for stowing the pin • Missing components include compass needle, ring, glass, and gnomon pins
- Structural Design and Layout
- The diptych dial is a multi-functional instrument crafted from ivory and brass. It is composed of two hinged leaves that fold together. The outer side of the upper leaf serves as a geographical reference, featuring a table of latitudes for 14 towns alongside a pin gnomon dial for standard hours marked 1 to 12 twice. Decoration within the spandrel spaces consists of small circles and curved lines, a motif mirrored on the inner side of the upper leaf. The interior surfaces are complex, housing multiple solar tracking configurations. The upper leaf interior contains three distinct dial types: a pin gnomon dial for Italian hours, a vertical string gnomon dial for common hours, and a secondary pin gnomon dial for common hours. A brass arm is situated on the right side of the lower leaf, designed to assist with latitude adjustment, while the bottom edge of this leaf is recessed to provide a storage compartment for the gnomon pin.
- Timekeeping and Specialized Scales
- The dial incorporates diverse systems of time measurement to suit various observational needs. The inner side of the upper leaf tracks Italian hours, numbered in green-blue from 14 to 24, while common hours are displayed via string and pin gnomon dials. An unequal scale is positioned on the right of the upper leaf to calibrate for latitude, marked in red increments from 30 to 80. On the lower leaf, the inner surface provides a string gnomon dial for common hours ranging from 4 to 12 to 8, with markings for half-hour intervals. Below this, a pin gnomon dial displays Italian hours (10-23) in green and Babylonian hours (1-14) in red.
- Identification and Current Condition
- The object remains unsigned by a specific maker, though it bears a distinct maker's mark in the shape of a sheep on the exterior of the lower leaf. This mark has yet to be identified in existing research. The ivory construction is dated 1543, and the piece is currently held by the Museum of the History of Science in Oxford, identified by inventory number 70. The compass vane on the lower leaf lacks its needle, ring, and glass cover. Both the vertical string gnomon and several pin gnomons are missing from their respective dial positions.
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: Original pins for pin gnomon dials are missing
- Research required: Compass components including needle, ring, and glass are missing
- Research required: String gnomon is missing from the vertical dial