Paul Reinmann Diptych Dial, 1603
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1603
This diptych dial, dated 1603 and signed by Paul Reinmann, is constructed from ivory and brass and measures 55 x 96 x 15 mm. The instrument consists of two leaves hinged together, featuring multiple integrated timekeeping systems, including string gnomon dials, a pin gnomon dial, an equatorial dial, and a scaphe gnomon dial for Italian and Babylonian hours.
It incorporates a compass and features complex decorative motifs, such as blowing faces and star patterns, which the source describes as hallmarks of the maker. The object is marked with a quality 'n' symbol, indicating certification by the Nuremberg compass makers' guild. Additional features include a latitude scale on the edge, a wind rose, and a lunar volvelle. Although a compartment for a wind vane is present, the component is missing from the object in its current state.
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
- 1603
- Type
- Nuremberg diptych dial
- Maker
- Paul Reinmann
- Location
- Nuremberg
- Material
- Ivory and brass
- Dimensions
- 55 x 96 x 15 mm
- Guild mark
- n
- Maker's mark
- Coronet
- Place recorded
- Nuremberg
- Maker / attribution
- Paul Reinmann
Design
- Visible features
- • Signed PAVLVS REINMAN FACIEBAT in red • Features a central brass plate for an equatorial dial • Includes both Italian and Babylonian hour scales in the scaphe • The wind vane is missing from the left side compartment
- Signatures and Guild Marks
- The object displays formal marks of production and guild quality control. The maker’s signature, 'PAVLVS REINMAN FACIEBAT', is inscribed in red at the base of the inner upper leaf. The instrument also features a maker's mark in the form of a coronet on the outer portion of the lower leaf. A key indicator of the instrument's professional standing is the presence of the 'n' mark. This mark was applied by sworn masters of the Nuremberg compass makers' guild to identify instruments that met the required standards of quality. Its inclusion on this piece confirms its production within the established framework of the Nuremberg craft guilds during the early seventeenth century.
- Structural Design and Layout
- The diptych dial is a composite instrument comprised of two ivory leaves connected by a hinge. The upper leaf serves as a multifaceted timekeeper, featuring a pin gnomon dial on its inner surface that uses zodiacal symbols for solar declination and indicates day length. Below this, a string gnomon dial tracks common hours, complemented by a centrally mounted brass plate representing the southern side of an equatorial dial marked with two twelve-hour sequences. The lower leaf accommodates a compass at its center, surrounded by hour markings for a string gnomon. Toward the bottom of this leaf, a scaphe gnomon dial allows for the reading of both Italian and Babylonian hours. Brass fittings, including a latitude adjustment arm and a scale of latitudes ranging from 20 to 60 degrees, are mounted along the edges of the leaves, which also house internal storage compartments for the pins.
- Decorative Motifs and Astronomical Features
- Reinmann integrated several artistic and astronomical elements into the ivory structure. The outer surface of the upper leaf contains a wind rose with 32 directions and a lunar volvelle equipped with a six-leaf flower center for time correction. Similar decorative themes appear on the inner surfaces, where blowing faces and colored stars surround the compass and dial layouts. The scaphe is also adorned with a six-leaf flower and star motifs.
Identification
- Inventory number
- 72160
- 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 wind vane is confirmed as missing by the source
- Research required: The source notes the signature as 'PAVLVS?REINMAN?FACIEBAT' suggesting potential degradation of the characters