Vertical Disc Dial by Erasmus Habermel
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1586
This vertical disc dial, created by Erasmus Habermel in 1586, is a gilt copper timekeeping instrument measuring 160 x 160 mm. The construction features two superimposed plates: one octagonal base plate and a circular plate.
The circular plate functions as the primary dial face, featuring hour lines engraved in a spiral pattern, accompanied by inscriptions indicating solar declination and general hours. The border of the circular plate contains a zodiac scale divided by degrees. The octagonal plate is decorated with arabesques at the corners and includes a suspension ring for vertical orientation. The reverse of the dial displays a complex diagram for converting between common, Italian, and Babylonian hours, featuring a central wind rose and a radial arm.
Although the gnomon is currently missing, the device originally relied on this component and a plumb line to function as a sundial.
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
- 1586
- Type
- Other sundial
- Maker
- Erasmus Habermel
- Origin
- German
- Material
- Gilt copper
- Signature
- Erasmus Habermel Fecit 86
- Dimensions
- 160 x 160 mm
- Place recorded
- Germany
- Maker / attribution
- Erasmus Habermel
Design
- Visible features
- • Arabesque corner decoration on the octagonal plate • Suspension ring at the top • Spiral hour line arrangement • Evidence of a central mounting point for a former gnomon
- Structural Design
- The instrument is composed of two superimposed metallic plates: a square-based octagonal plate and a circular plate mounted on top. The octagonal plate provides the structural frame and is decorated with arabesques at each of its corners. A notch is located at the bottom of this plate. A suspension ring is attached to the top of the frame, indicating its intended use as a suspended vertical device. The circular plate serves as the principal dial face. On its exterior side, it contains a zodiac scale along the border, subdivided by degrees. The center of the plate features an aperture or attachment point for a gnomon, which is now missing from the assembly. A plumb line is also noted as an original, though detached, component of the dial's functional requirements.
- Timekeeping Functions
- The dial facilitates the reading of time through a spiral engraving of hour lines on the circular plate. These are numbered from 1 to 12. Solar information is provided through the inclusion of the Latin phrases 'SOL ASCENDIT' and 'SOL DESCENDIT' to track the increase and decrease of solar declination. The designation 'HORAE GENERALES' is also inscribed on this face to denote the general hours. The reverse side of the dial includes a conversion chart for different timekeeping systems. It displays common hours marked from I to XII twice, as well as Italian and Babylonian hours numbered from 1 to 24. A rotatable index and a radial arm, which features zodiacal symbols, allow the user to convert between these varied time systems. A wind rose is positioned in the center of this diagram.
- Signatures and Inscriptions
- The maker's mark is present on the circular plate. The signature 'Erasmus Habermel Fecit 86' is engraved in very small characters. This signature serves to attribute the object to the German instrument maker and provides the completion date of 1586. The inscriptions on the dial appear in both Latin and numeric formats to serve the dial's diagnostic purposes. The zodiac scale is numbered specifically from 10 to 30 by increments of 10. The combination of these inscriptions with the specific arabesque decorative style on the octagon provides the primary evidence for the dial's historical attribution and functional purpose.
Identification
- Inventory Number
- 35550
- 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 gnomon is missing
- Research required: The extent of later modifications is not specified