Vertical Dial
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
16th century
This 16th-century column sundial is composed of gilt brass and measures 100 mm in height. The instrument consists of a quadrilateral column featuring a hinged, domed lid that houses an integrated compass, which allows for proper orientation of the dial.
Internally, the instrument incorporates a metal frame equipped with a counterweighted perpendicular rod attached to a double pivot; this plumb-line mechanism serves to ensure the dial is maintained in a strictly vertical position during use. The two front faces are engraved with hour dials calibrated for a 48° latitude, while the back faces feature a table of planetary rulers and decorative leaf motifs. All numerals and inscriptions on the instrument are executed using a punching technique, with Latin used for all textual components.
The dial is unsigned and is currently held in the collection of the Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza in Florence.
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
- 16th century
- Type
- Other sundial
- Material
- Gilt brass
- Dimensions
- 100 mm in height
- Construction
- Quadrilateral column with domed lid
- Inscriptions
- Punched Latin numerals and text
- Place recorded
- Germany
- Leveling Mechanism
- Counterweighted perpendicular rod
- Latitude Calibration
- 48 degrees
Design
- Visible features
- • Quadrilateral column construction with a domed, hinged lid. • Integrated compass contained within the lid assembly. • Gnomons present on the column faces for shadow casting. • Engraved Latin inscriptions including Tropic of Cancer/Capricorn and Equinoxes.
- Dialling and Markings
- The functionality of the dial is dictated by the latitude for which it was calibrated, specifically 48°. This calibration, which suggests a German origin, is applied to the two front faces of the canister, which recline at an angle of 45° when the dial is oriented. These faces feature hour markings from 4 to 12 to 2 and 10 to 12 to 8. Beneath the hour dials, there is an hour diagram detailing the lengths of day and night, including specific arcs for the Tropics and the equinoxes. The back faces are decorated with a table of planetary rulers and formal leaf patterns within a double rule border. All text and numerals are applied via a punching process.
- Construction and Orientation
- The instrument is fashioned as a column with a quadrilateral cross-section, measuring 100 mm in height. It is crafted from gilt brass and features a hinged dome-shaped lid. When opened, the lid reveals an integrated compass, which provides the orientation required for the sundial to function correctly. To ensure accuracy in time measurement, the column is equipped with a vertical leveling device located within the body of the instrument. This assembly consists of a metal frame and a counterweighted rod, attached by a double pivot. This configuration allows the rod to oscillate, functioning as a plumb-line to verify the vertical position of the dial.
- Provenance and Documentation
- The object is recorded as item number 2534 within the collection of the Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza in Florence. It is currently catalogued without a maker's mark. The instrument has been examined and documented as part of the Epact archive regarding scientific instruments of Medieval and Renaissance Europe, with research notes provided by Anthony J. Turner.
Identification
- 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 maker of the instrument is currently unidentified.
- Research required: The attribution to Germany is inferred from the latitude calibration of 48°.