rectangular ivory diptych sundial
Datecirca 1625
Inventory Number7500
ClassificationSundial
Subject
Maker
French
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensionsclosed: 1.4 x 5.1 x 6.7 cm (9/16 x 2 x 2 5/8 in.)
Material
DescriptionBlack, red, blue, and gilt coloring. Copper (?) hook clasps and eyes, brass hinges on I and II. Ivory is spotted in places. Brass plates (later addition) on top cover to hold the top plate together. Iron compass needle has a small jewel at its center in a silver mount.
Ia Double-lined edging surrounds ten-ponted geometric star motif.
Ib Latitude table of 13 cities, most of them French (latitudes 40°- 50°), written in gold (now very faint) on a blue background. Geometric ornamentation surrounds latitude table. Brass spring and slider, copper wire slidebar. Sliding scale for string gnomon calibrated 40° - 50°.
IIa Horizontal dial with three scales, labeled V-XII-VII in the middle scale in red numerals for 42° (inner), 45° (middle), and 48° (outer), with dots marking the half-hours. Compass bowl is painted blue and includes an eight-pointed star with faint gilt and black writing. Magnetic declination 2° east of north. Single-lined frame. Glass missing.
IIb Undecorated, except for double-lined edging. Numbered 105 in red. Several small cracks and scratches.
Ia Double-lined edging surrounds ten-ponted geometric star motif.
Ib Latitude table of 13 cities, most of them French (latitudes 40°- 50°), written in gold (now very faint) on a blue background. Geometric ornamentation surrounds latitude table. Brass spring and slider, copper wire slidebar. Sliding scale for string gnomon calibrated 40° - 50°.
IIa Horizontal dial with three scales, labeled V-XII-VII in the middle scale in red numerals for 42° (inner), 45° (middle), and 48° (outer), with dots marking the half-hours. Compass bowl is painted blue and includes an eight-pointed star with faint gilt and black writing. Magnetic declination 2° east of north. Single-lined frame. Glass missing.
IIb Undecorated, except for double-lined edging. Numbered 105 in red. Several small cracks and scratches.
Signedunsigned
Curatorial RemarksLloyd53
ProvenanceJoseph Drecker, Aachen, Germany, before 1928 (no. 175); Frederik Casparus Wieder, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 1928; D. P. Wheatland, Topsfield, MA, 1959; gift to CHSI, ca. 1987.
French
Date: 1623
Accessories: black tooled leather case with gilt decoration
Object number: 7495
Michael Butterfield
Date: 1680-1681
Accessories: case
Object number: 7011
Japanese
Date: circa 1840
Accessories: flint and steel fire starter (7972b)
Object number: 7972a
French
Date: mid 17th-late 17th Century
Object number: 7517