Thomas Tucher Ivory Diptych Dial
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1600
This ivory diptych dial is attributed to Thomas Tucher of Nuremberg, dated to circa 1600. Measuring 139 x 75 x 15 mm, the instrument is characterized by its wide proportions and intricate decoration featuring motifs of fruits and flowers in brown and green pigments.
The dial is composed of two hinged leaves. The interior of the upper leaf contains latitude adjustment holes for 54°, 48°, and 42°, alongside two pin gnomon dials displaying 'Welsch' hours and 'Quantidass Diei' with zodiacal signs. The interior of the lower leaf includes a central compass compartment and a string gnomon dial. Additional scaphe dials for 'Welsch' and 'Penmische' hours are calibrated for specific latitudes.
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 1600
- Type
- Diptych sundial
- Maker
- Thomas Tucher
- Origin
- Nuremberg
- Material
- Ivory
- Dimensions
- 139 x 75 x 15 mm
- Maker's Mark
- Crowned snake
- Place recorded
- Nuremberg
- Maker / attribution
- Thomas Tucher
Design
- Visible features
- • Internal compass glass is missing • Decoration includes colored fruit and floral motifs • Features three bun feet on the base • Latitude adjustments provided for 42, 48, and 54 degrees
- Horological Functions
- The dial serves multiple timekeeping functions, including the indication of common hours, Italian hours (Welsch hours), and day duration hours. Latitude adjustment is facilitated by pin holes corresponding to 42°, 48°, and 54°, allowing the string gnomon to be positioned correctly for different geographical locations. Specific scaphe dials on the lower leaf indicate Welsch hours for latitude 45° and 'Penmische' hours for latitude 51°, both numbered 9 to 23. These scales indicate that the dial was intended to function across several European regions, utilizing varying systems of hour measurement prevalent in the period.
- Construction and Layout
- The diptych dial is constructed from ivory with external dimensions of 139 by 75 by 15 mm. The instrument consists of two leaves hinged together, decorated with foliage, fruits, and flowers. The outer surfaces include a wind rose with 32 directions on the upper leaf and a lunar volvelle on the lower leaf, accompanied by figures. The interior of the upper leaf houses latitude settings enclosed in ellipses. Below these are two pin gnomon dials: one for Welsch hours (14–24) and one for 'Quantidass Diei' (8–16) featuring zodiacal symbols. The lower leaf centers on a compass cavity, though the original glass is absent, surrounded by a string gnomon dial and two inset scaphe dials calibrated for specific latitudes.
- Signatures and Provenance
- The instrument bears the mark of a crowned snake, identified in the cataloging as the maker's mark. It is attributed to Thomas Tucher of Nuremberg, an attribution consistent with the style of ivory dial production associated with that center during the turn of the 17th century. The piece is currently part of the collection at the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, under the inventory number 78766. The documentation provided notes the absence of the compass glass, a detail preserved in the museum’s physical examination of the object.
Identification
- Inventory Number
- 78766
- 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: Attribution to Thomas Tucher is not definitive
- Research required: Relationship between 'Welsch' and 'Penmische' hours remains speculative