crescent sundial
Date1670-1700
Inventory Number7116
ClassificationSundial
Subject
Maker
Johann Martin
1642 - 1721
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensionsclosed: 1.5 x 6.5 x 6.7 cm (9/16 x 2 9/16 x 2 5/8 in.)
Material
DescriptionThis cresent, equatorial sundial is made of silver and gilt brass.
The base of the sundial is a square silver plate supported on two, silver, leveling-screw feet with winged heads and on a single gilt brass, turned foot. The plumb bob and bracket are made of gilt brass. The bracket is trimmed with scrollwork. The gilt brass latitude arm is divided 0°-90° every 2°. One end is scrolling and the other hinged to the sundial's base. It slides through a slot in the equatorial armature that supports the hour scales. The top side of the silver base plate is also inscribed with a gazetteer of 48 cities and the maker's name.
The underside of the sundial base has a fancy gilt brass spring to secure the plumb bob bracket on the top side. The spring is engraved with leaves and trimmed.
There is also a perpetual calendar on the underside with a silver volvelle. It is marked "Imerwehrender Calender," and has a cut-away notch revealing seven days of the month, which are engraved below the rotating disk. The week days are identified along the edge of the notch in tiny letters in German abbreviations. Moving towards the center of the volvelle, next is a zodiacal calendar marked with zodiacal symbols, zodiacal figures, and numerals. (The numerals represent the civil calendar date when the sun would enter that particular sign, but they are unusual. They run Aries, 19; Taurus, 19; Gemini, 20; Cancer, 21; Leo, 22;...etc. back down to 19. The vernal equinox is set at March 19.) Inside this is a gilt volvelle, marked "Monat des Iahrs und Son[n]enlauff," with a notch showing the month of the year and the number of days in that month. This is followed by a rose decoration. Both of the volvelles have gilt turning knobs.
Returning to the top of the sundial, the underside of the armature for the hour scale is trimmed and pierced gilt brass, with engraved acanthus leaves. There is a brass spring with acanthus-leaf ornamentation attached to the folding gnomon.
The hour scale is silver and is divided into two semi-circles along the side of the aforementioned armature. The morning side has hours 2-12, by half-hour intervals. The afternoon side has hours 12-10, by half-hour intervals.
The top of the armature is made of pierced gilt brass with engraved flowers and acanthus leaves. It supports a folding gnomon made of silver and shaped as a cresent. The crescent is attached by a fancy gilt screw with four points on its head to a silver, solar-declination scale marked with the initials of the months, plus "ST/N" at the northern point.
Of further note: The figural depiction of the Gemini twins on the perpetual calendar volvelle shows a twin standing and urinating into a bowl held by his crouching brother.
The base of the sundial is a square silver plate supported on two, silver, leveling-screw feet with winged heads and on a single gilt brass, turned foot. The plumb bob and bracket are made of gilt brass. The bracket is trimmed with scrollwork. The gilt brass latitude arm is divided 0°-90° every 2°. One end is scrolling and the other hinged to the sundial's base. It slides through a slot in the equatorial armature that supports the hour scales. The top side of the silver base plate is also inscribed with a gazetteer of 48 cities and the maker's name.
The underside of the sundial base has a fancy gilt brass spring to secure the plumb bob bracket on the top side. The spring is engraved with leaves and trimmed.
There is also a perpetual calendar on the underside with a silver volvelle. It is marked "Imerwehrender Calender," and has a cut-away notch revealing seven days of the month, which are engraved below the rotating disk. The week days are identified along the edge of the notch in tiny letters in German abbreviations. Moving towards the center of the volvelle, next is a zodiacal calendar marked with zodiacal symbols, zodiacal figures, and numerals. (The numerals represent the civil calendar date when the sun would enter that particular sign, but they are unusual. They run Aries, 19; Taurus, 19; Gemini, 20; Cancer, 21; Leo, 22;...etc. back down to 19. The vernal equinox is set at March 19.) Inside this is a gilt volvelle, marked "Monat des Iahrs und Son[n]enlauff," with a notch showing the month of the year and the number of days in that month. This is followed by a rose decoration. Both of the volvelles have gilt turning knobs.
Returning to the top of the sundial, the underside of the armature for the hour scale is trimmed and pierced gilt brass, with engraved acanthus leaves. There is a brass spring with acanthus-leaf ornamentation attached to the folding gnomon.
The hour scale is silver and is divided into two semi-circles along the side of the aforementioned armature. The morning side has hours 2-12, by half-hour intervals. The afternoon side has hours 12-10, by half-hour intervals.
The top of the armature is made of pierced gilt brass with engraved flowers and acanthus leaves. It supports a folding gnomon made of silver and shaped as a cresent. The crescent is attached by a fancy gilt screw with four points on its head to a silver, solar-declination scale marked with the initials of the months, plus "ST/N" at the northern point.
Of further note: The figural depiction of the Gemini twins on the perpetual calendar volvelle shows a twin standing and urinating into a bowl held by his crouching brother.
In Collection(s)
Signedon top of base: Johann Martin in Augspurg 48
FunctionCrescent sundials are a form of portable, equatorial (or equinoctial) sundial. They are self-orienting and do not require a magnetic compass to be used. They were likely invented by Johann Martin, who was not only the maker of this example but also one of the few makers of this form of sundial.
ProvenanceJoseph Drecker, Aachen, Germany, before 1928 (no. 52). David Wheatland purchased in 1959. Donated to CHSI, ca. 1987.
N. James
Date: 1700-1725
Accessories: winding key
Object number: 7935
John Pepys
Date: 1680-1708
Accessories: Key on cotton ribbon
Object number: 7953
Ludovicus Theodatus Müller
Date: 1750-1770
Accessories: case
Object number: 7079
Ernst Christoph Stockert
Date: circa 1806
Accessories: None
Object number: 7430