Ring Dial by Humfrey Cole

Technical characteristics

Date

circa 1575

Type

English ring dial

Maker

Humfrey Cole

Diameter

74 mm

Location

London

Material

Gilt brass

Latitude Range

50° to 56°

Place recorded

London

Maker / attribution

Humfrey Cole

Design

Visible features

• Gilt brass construction with a suspension apparatus • Signature 'H C?le' engraved on the inner surface • Multiple movable bands with pinholes for latitude and calendrical settings • Engraved list of city latitudes and planetary symbols on the exterior

Provenance and Documentation

The instrument is identified by the British Museum, London, under the registration number MLA 1905,6-8.1. It was presented to the museum by C. J. Wertheimer in 1905. The object is recognized as the only known surviving example of a ring dial produced by the maker Humfrey Cole. The dial has been the subject of academic research and is documented in several publications, including R. T. Gunther's 1927 study of Cole's instruments in Archaeologia and F. A. B. Ward's 1981 catalogue of the British Museum's European scientific instruments. Further analysis was conducted by Silke Ackermann in her 1998 work regarding Cole's output in Elizabethan England.

Construction and Exterior Markings

The ring dial is constructed of gilt brass and features a diameter of 74 mm. It is designed with a series of movable bands and a movable suspension apparatus. The exterior surface of the ring is engraved with an extensive array of astronomical and calendrical information. This includes a table of Saints' days and Christian feasts, planetary aspects, zodiacal scales, and a list of cities with their associated latitudes. The exterior markings are laid out anticlockwise, beginning with a list of feast days spanning January through December. Additional features on the exterior include bands for planetary aspects and the age of the moon, both equipped with bosses to assist in manual rotation. A fixed band displays a Julian calendar scale with Latin month names and corresponding date scales. The list of cities with latitudes starts on the ring surface and continues along the outside edge, including locations such as London, Oxford, and Bristol.

Interior Markings and Calendrical Data

The interior of the ring dial is engraved with a perpetual calendar that indicates it begins in 1575 and is intended for permanent use. This section provides lists for Dominical Letters, Golden Numbers, and Epacts. Adjacent to the calendar is a scale detailing the zodiacal signs and latitude lines ranging from 50 to 56 degrees. The signature 'H C?le' is positioned at the base of this scale. Also included on the interior is a table for the entry of the sun into specific zodiacal signs, with columns marked for months, dates, the sun, and the signs. Oblique lines for common hours are present, which are numbered from 4 to 12 to 9, corresponding to the required latitude settings for the user. These components enable the instrument to function as a portable sundial across various geographic locations.

Identification

Inventory Number

MLA 1905,6-8.1

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.