Images(4)

Butterfield-type sundial

Date1740-1770

Inventory Number7025

ClassificationSundial

Subject

Maker Pierre Alexis Lasnier fl. 1734 - 1777

Maker Charles-Henri Lasnier 1709 - c. 1780

Cultural Region

Place of Origin

Dimensionsgnomon as found: 3.4 × 6.6 × 7.4 cm (1 5/16 × 2 5/8 × 2 15/16 in.)
closed: 1.4 × 6.6 × 7.4 cm (9/16 × 2 5/8 × 2 15/16 in.)

Material

DescriptionBrass octagonal dial plate with compass at one end. Four hour scales for latitudes 40, 45, 49, and 52 degrees are numbered alternately in Roman and Arabic numbers. Bird gnomon for latitudes 40 to 60.

Wind rose with fleur-de-lys pointing North. "N, E, S, O" mark cardinal points. French initials mark 4 intermediate points with lines down to 16 points.

The reverse side of the dial plate is engraved with the names and latitudes (in degrees) of 17 European towns with 2 more on the back of the compass bowl. Cities are placed into quadrants, but latitudes are not ordered accordingly (maker seemed to not understand the purpose of labelling by quadrants).

Signedon top: Lasnier AParis

Curatorial RemarksThe engraving is not to a high standard. The decoration on the back of the compass bowl is simplistic and the inner two chapter rings do not have quarter hour markings. The acquisition date is marked 10/26/90 on a tag of uncertain origin.

Functiontime-finding : 40-60 degrees

ProvenanceJoseph Drecker, Aachen, Germany, before 1928 (no. 168); Frederik Casparus Wieder, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 1928; D. P. Wheatland, Topsfield, MA, 1959; gift to CHSI, ca. 1987.