Scaphe Dial by Girolamo della Volpaia
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1588
This scaphe dial, measuring 80 mm in diameter, is a portable timekeeping instrument constructed from brass and housed within a turned wooden case. Created by Girolamo della Volpaia in Florence in 1588, the device features a hemispherical interior dial surface engraved with astronomical and temporal markings.
These include Italian hours ranging from X to XXIIII, as well as inscribed lines for the tropics, identified as 'TROPICVS CAPRI CORNI' and 'TROPICVS CANCRI', and the 'AEQVINOCTIALIS LINEA'. A brass gnomon is positioned at the top of the scaphe. The dial border carries a Latin inscription reflecting on the passage of time. The instrument also integrates a compass with a wind rose at the base of the bowl, containing initials corresponding to eight wind directions.
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
- 1588
- Type
- Italian scaphe dial
- Maker
- Girolamo della Volpaia
- Diameter
- 80 mm
- Location
- Florence
- Materials
- Wood and brass
- Place recorded
- Italy
- Maker / attribution
- Girolamo della Volpaia
Design
- Visible features
- • Hemispherical brass dial interior with engraved markings • Turned wooden case with separate circular lid • Compass integrated into the base of the scaphe • Latin inscription encircling the dial rim
- Construction and Dial Design
- The scaphe dial is manufactured from brass and presented within a turned wooden container. The dial's hemispherical surface serves as a projection for time measurement, featuring a series of complex engravings. These include lines denoting the tropical boundaries of the sun's annual path, specifically the Tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer, alongside the equinoctial line. The temporal markings engraved on the interior are specifically configured to indicate Italian hours. The numbering is observed from X through XXIIII. A brass gnomon stands at the top of the bowl to cast a shadow across these markings. The outer rim is engraved with a continuous Latin text, which serves as a memento mori concerning the destructive nature of time.
- Provenance and Historical Context
- The object is preserved in the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, under inventory number 49. It is catalogued as part of the Epact collection of scientific instruments of medieval and Renaissance Europe. The Latin inscription 'NIL NOMEN NIL FAMA IVVAT NIL CANDIDA VIRTVS TEMPVS ENIM RAPIDO SINGVLA DENTE VORAT' provides thematic context to the object, referencing the classical view of time as a power that consumes all worldly achievements. This stylistic choice aligns with academic traditions of the late sixteenth century.
- Signatures and Compass Integration
- Located at the upper portion of the scaphe is the signature of the maker, documented as HIERONIMVS VVL PARIAE FLORENTINVS. This placement is central to the dial's layout, identifying the craftsman and his origin in Florence. The signature is accompanied by the date 1588. A compass is set into the bottom of the bowl, intended for the proper orientation of the instrument. This compass features a wind rose with eight cardinal and intercardinal points. The initials used include 'T' for Tramontana, 'G' for Garbino, 'L' for Levante, 'S' for Sirocho, 'G' for Greco, 'P' for Ponente, and 'M' for Maestro, with an additional unidentified 'M' initial.
Identification
- Inventory Number
- 49
- 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 exact meaning of the 'M' initial on the wind rose is not explicitly clarified in the source
- Research required: The question mark in the signature transcription suggests potential wear or uncertainty in reading the original engraving