rectangular ivory diptych sundial with quadrant
Date1613
Inventory Number7459
ClassificationSundial
Subject
Maker
Leonhart Miller
fl. 1613 - 1649
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensionsclosed: 1.2 x 7 x 10.4 cm (1/2 x 2 3/4 x 4 1/8 in.)
Material
DescriptionThis ivory diptych sundial has black, red, brown and green coloring.
1a
Weather vane with rotating pointer terminating in a pointing hand and a little crescent moon face. Sun face at center of the wind rose. Wind rose of 32 points. Weather forcasts around the edge of the wind rose. Round hole for viewing the compass needle. Wind vane missing, but storage space is to be found on side edge of diptych. Foliate decoration. Brass ball feet.
1b
Pin gnomon dial (pin missing) for the length of daylight and the sun's zodiacal sign. Holes for insertion of string for use of string-gnomon horizontal dial on 2a. These holes are marked in latitudes of 39, 42, 45, 48, 51, and 54. Gazetteer of 30 European cities with their latitudes. Foliate decoration.
2a
String-gnomon dial with six hour scales, one corresponding to each latitude (39, 42, 45, 48, 51, and 54). Hours marked 4-12-8 by quarter hours. Magnetic compass with original needle. Four points of compass marked in Latin. Maker's mark in center. Scaphe dial for Italian hours (marked 8-23) and Babylonian or Nuremberg hours (marked 1-16). Sun face in the bowl. Foliate decoration with squirrels.
2b
quadrant divided 0-90 degrees every 1 degree. Plumb line and bob missing, but storage hole is on side of sundial leaf. Decoration of forest scenes with deer, fox, squirrel, bird. Two maker's marks (fleurs-de-lys) by the hinge. Brass ball feet.
1a
Weather vane with rotating pointer terminating in a pointing hand and a little crescent moon face. Sun face at center of the wind rose. Wind rose of 32 points. Weather forcasts around the edge of the wind rose. Round hole for viewing the compass needle. Wind vane missing, but storage space is to be found on side edge of diptych. Foliate decoration. Brass ball feet.
1b
Pin gnomon dial (pin missing) for the length of daylight and the sun's zodiacal sign. Holes for insertion of string for use of string-gnomon horizontal dial on 2a. These holes are marked in latitudes of 39, 42, 45, 48, 51, and 54. Gazetteer of 30 European cities with their latitudes. Foliate decoration.
2a
String-gnomon dial with six hour scales, one corresponding to each latitude (39, 42, 45, 48, 51, and 54). Hours marked 4-12-8 by quarter hours. Magnetic compass with original needle. Four points of compass marked in Latin. Maker's mark in center. Scaphe dial for Italian hours (marked 8-23) and Babylonian or Nuremberg hours (marked 1-16). Sun face in the bowl. Foliate decoration with squirrels.
2b
quadrant divided 0-90 degrees every 1 degree. Plumb line and bob missing, but storage hole is on side of sundial leaf. Decoration of forest scenes with deer, fox, squirrel, bird. Two maker's marks (fleurs-de-lys) by the hinge. Brass ball feet.
Signedin scaphe on 2b: LIENHART MILLER
ProvenanceJoseph Drecker, Aachen, Germany, before 1928 (no. 126); Frederik Casparus Wieder, Noordwijk, The Netherlands 1928; D.P. Wheatland, Topsfield, MA, 1959; gift to CHSI, ca. 1987
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
Ernst Christoph Stockert
Date: circa 1806
Accessories: None
Object number: 7430