Sundial, wooden base with lacquered copper plate, Prague, 1580
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1580
Ca. 14 x 14 cm, wooden base, signed, lacquered copper plate. The plate bears both the scale system of a horizontal sundial and that of a seasonal clock. The scale of the seasonal clock is located around the edge with the Latin names of the signs of the zodiac. In addition indicates the sunrise and sunset times that change with the seasons.
Erasmus Habermehl, also known as Erasmus Habermel (* around 1538; † 15 November 1606 in Prague) was an important clockmaker and manufacturer of astronomical and geodetic instruments in the 16th century, who most recently worked as a court instrument maker at the court of Emperor Rudolf II in Prague. He was probably originally from southern Germany and is thought to have arrived in Prague via Nuremberg, the center of watchmaking at the time.
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.
Physical characteristics
- Material (listing wording)
- wood, copper
- Dimensions or weight (listing wording)
- 14 x 14 cm; 1606 in
Identification
- Source note
- Auction-house description published on Invaluable; the text keeps only the listing's object facts (condition, price and sale wording removed). Attribution and measurements describe the photographed example; independent type authentication remains research required.
- Candidate id
- inv-200505282
- Auction house
- Cortrie Spezial Auktionen
- Listing object ID
- 200505282
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: confirm the wider type, maker and dating against a specialist reference; this entry documents one recorded example.