Sun and Moon Dial by Hans Gruber
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1570
This portable sun and moon dial, manufactured in Nuremberg circa 1570, is signed by maker Hans Gruber. Constructed from gilt and silvered brass, the instrument measures 64 by 62 by 19 mm.
The device features a hinged, square box design secured by a hook clasp. Its exterior cover is engraved with a depiction of the goddess Urania holding a globe, accompanied by celestial motifs. The interior components include a horizontal dial with a folding gnomon for latitude 48 degrees, serving as a lunar or solar dial. The base of the instrument houses a compass and an inclining dial adjustable for latitudes between 42 and 62 degrees, alongside a table of latitudes for 24 locations.
The object was formerly held in the Michel and Billmeir collections and is currently part of the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford collection.
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
- circa 1570
- Type
- Nuremberg sun and moon dial
- Maker
- Hans Gruber
- Materials
- Gilt and silvered brass
- Dimensions
- 64 x 62 x 19 mm
- Provenance
- Michel and Billmeir Collections
- Place recorded
- Germany
- Latitude coverage
- 42 to 62 degrees
- Maker / attribution
- Hans Gruber
- Place of manufacture
- Nuremberg
Design
- Visible features
- • Hinged square box form with a hook clasp • Silvered disc dial featuring lunar age adjustment • Folding gnomons on both the upper and lower surfaces • Compass integrated into the base
- Timekeeping Functions
- The device functions as a dual-purpose solar and lunar dial. The silvered disc on the inner lid carries an hour scale ranging from 4 to 12 to 8, which can be adjusted using a circular aperture for lunar age setting. The lunar age scale is graduated from 1 to 29 1/2. The base of the instrument contains an additional inclining dial, which also features a folding gnomon and an hour scale running from 4 to 12 to 8. This plate is adjustable for latitudes between 42 and 62 degrees at two-degree intervals, facilitating use across various locations. A compass, 25 mm in diameter, is installed within the base to assist with orientation.
- Construction and Design
- The instrument is composed of a square box fashioned from gilt and silvered brass. Measuring 64 x 62 x 19 mm, it utilizes a hinged lid mechanism secured by a hook clasp. The outer cover features a decorative engraving of Urania, the figure holding a globe, set against a background of celestial symbols including the sun, moon, and stars, all enclosed within a hatched border. The internal configuration includes a horizontal dial mounted on the inner lid face, designed for approximately 48 degrees latitude. This component features a gnomon that folds into a vertical position for use. The corners of the dial face display ornamentation identified in the museum records as representing winds.
- Signatures and Provenance
- The base of the instrument bears the maker's signature, 'Ioannes Gruber Norimb:', confirming the provenance to the Nuremberg workshop of Hans Gruber. Included on the base is a table of latitudes for 24 distinct places, providing geographic utility for the instrument's user. The instrument has been held in several notable private collections, specifically the Michel Collection and the Billmeir Collection (catalogued as 57-84/52). It is now part of the permanent holdings at the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, under inventory number 43553.
Identification
- Reference
- 43553
- 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: Interpretation of corner decorations as representations of winds is speculative
- Research required: The exact function or specific application of the 'simply marked' compass variation is not detailed