rectangular ivory diptych sundial
Date1685-1700
Inventory Number7524
ClassificationSundial
Subject
Maker
Georg Karner
?
fl. 1679 - 1700
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensionsclosed: 1.4 x 7.2 x 9.8 cm (9/16 x 2 13/16 x 3 7/8 in.)
Material
DescriptionBlack and red coloring. Tablet I slightly warped. Compass viewing-hole in I, slot for wind vane in side of II. Brass wire clasps on I and II, a single bun foot each on I and II. Compass needle, glass, and metal ring intact. Modern paper label along left outer edge reads "German. c. 1650. Mercator. 1500."
la Wind rose with 32 points, labeled 1-32 (west= 32), 16 directions labeled or abbreviated in German. Wind vane missing. Double-lined border.
lb Pin gnomon dial with hour lines labeled 1-12 in red numerals for planetary hours, and marked with zodiacal symbols. Holes for string gnomon labeled at 42°, 45°, 48°, 51 °, and 54 °, with four additional unlabeled holes for lower latitudes (probably added at a later date). Latitude table for 26 European cities (42°-54° latitude). Double-lined border.
Ila Horizontal dial with a single scale labeled 5-12-7 in black numerals. Pin gnomon dial for Italian hours (labeled 9-23 in red numerals) and Babylonian hours (labeled 1-15 in black numerals). Compass bowl with painted paper insert graduated to 50° east or west of north to account for changes in magnetic declination (added later). Quatrefoil and other decorative stamps. Double-lined border.
llb Standard German lunar volvelle, brass disc missing. Scales labeled 1-12 twice (inner) and 1-29 (outer). Epact scale (be-ginning with 23 and 13, respectively, for the year 1684) in circular form around volvelle, labeled "EPACTA IVLIANI ANNO" [Julian epacts, year] and "EPACTA GREGORI ANNO" [Gregorian epacts, year]. Double-lined border.
la Wind rose with 32 points, labeled 1-32 (west= 32), 16 directions labeled or abbreviated in German. Wind vane missing. Double-lined border.
lb Pin gnomon dial with hour lines labeled 1-12 in red numerals for planetary hours, and marked with zodiacal symbols. Holes for string gnomon labeled at 42°, 45°, 48°, 51 °, and 54 °, with four additional unlabeled holes for lower latitudes (probably added at a later date). Latitude table for 26 European cities (42°-54° latitude). Double-lined border.
Ila Horizontal dial with a single scale labeled 5-12-7 in black numerals. Pin gnomon dial for Italian hours (labeled 9-23 in red numerals) and Babylonian hours (labeled 1-15 in black numerals). Compass bowl with painted paper insert graduated to 50° east or west of north to account for changes in magnetic declination (added later). Quatrefoil and other decorative stamps. Double-lined border.
llb Standard German lunar volvelle, brass disc missing. Scales labeled 1-12 twice (inner) and 1-29 (outer). Epact scale (be-ginning with 23 and 13, respectively, for the year 1684) in circular form around volvelle, labeled "EPACTA IVLIANI ANNO" [Julian epacts, year] and "EPACTA GREGORI ANNO" [Gregorian epacts, year]. Double-lined border.
Signedunsigned
Curatorial RemarksLloyd35
ProvenanceHarrold E. Gillingham, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, purchased from Gertrude Hamilton (Mercator), Paris, 1929. David P. Wheatland purchased from Gillingham, 1949. Donated to CHSI, c. 1985.
Charles Bloud
Date: 1653
Accessories: Stored in briefcase (not with sundial in its present location).
Object number: 7800
Conrad Karner
Date: 1630
Accessories: On 6/22/98 an envelope with a piece to this dial was found in 1V-2b. However, on the envelope it said "wrong dial," with no other information. JR
Object number: 7554
