compass sundial
Datecirca 1790
Inventory Number7950
ClassificationSundial
Subject
Maker
Philip Beringer
c. 1780 - 1820
Place of Origin
Dimensionsopen: 6.1 × 8.7 × 9 cm (2 3/8 × 3 7/16 × 3 9/16 in.)
closed: 2.4 × 8.7 × 9 cm (15/16 × 3 7/16 × 3 9/16 in.)
closed: 2.4 × 8.7 × 9 cm (15/16 × 3 7/16 × 3 9/16 in.)
Material
DescriptionThe horizontal dial is mounted above a magnetic compass on a square brass plate with a wooden base. The gnomon for the dial is hinged to fold flat onto the chapter ring for storage. The chapter ring is marked 4-12-1-8 with 15 minute subdivisions. The gnomon is designed for a latitude of approximately 49° North. The compass rose printed on paper, hand colored and divided into eight points marked NORD, No, OST, So, SUD, Sw, WEST and Nw with no subdivisions. There is a magenetic declination line at approximately 20°W.,Hand colored compass rose using red, green, yellow and blue.,square
P.B. horizontal compass sundial
P.B. horizontal compass sundial
SignedSigned P.B. on compass rose.
Curatorial RemarksBeleived to be from Germany (probably Nuremburg) but cannot be changed in database. Data on maker is from Webster Database. P.B. is also known as a maker of paper covered wooden diptych dials.
FunctionTime finding at one latitude after orienting the gnomon to point toward true North.
ProvenanceHarold Clarence Ernst, MD, Boston, c. 1900-1922 (no. 36); Mrs. Ellen L. Ernst (his widow), Jamaica Plain, MA, 1922; on loan to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1923-1938; gift to Harvard College Observatory, 1938; transfer to CHSI, 1964.
Japanese
Date: circa 1910
Accessories: Circular metal case with push-on cover (which may not have any original connection with sundial). There is a colored picture of a shepherd and a flock of sheep on a paper inserted inside the lid and two loose red paper discs.
Object number: 7979
English
Date: circa 1935
Accessories: Blue cardboard box with instructions printed on a circular paper glued to the interior of the lower half. There is also a slip-in brown leather case.
Object number: 7224
