compasses;
horizontal dial;
compass-dial;
instrument-case
- Museum number
- 1888,1201.283
- Description
-
This brass instrument contains a sundial engraved on the arms and crossbars of a pair of dividers, which has a (now incomplete) compass fitted on the hinge.
The OBVERSE faces of both arms of the dividers are engraved with the hour lines for common hours. The signature, date and place of production are inscribed in the midsection of the obverse of one arm; on the other is the inscription: 'HOROLOGIVM HORIZONTALE AD ELEVATIONES POLI • 47 • 48 • 49 • GR:'. The lower part of both arms is engraved with dotted arabesque decoration.
The REVERSE side of the arms is engraved with a scale of Augsburg inches (31/32 or 0.975 of a modern English inch). On one arm the inches are divided from zero to 6 to 1/2, 1/4 and 1/8 and numbered from 1 to 6. On the other arm they are divided from 6 to 11 to 1/3 and to 1/5, numbered from 7 to 11.
The HINGE is decorated with a flower. On the hinge is a COMPASS (needle and glass missing), with cover (now detached) engraved with decoration. The dial, when in use, rests on the hinge on the other side of the compass and on two bun feet at the end of the dividers' arms.
The two transverse BARS can be folded; the upper one is engraved with hour lines from half nine to half two, divided to the half-hour. The gnomon is now missing.
On one of the dividers' arms are two U-shaped brackets, the use of which is unknown.
At the end of each arm is a retractable gilt brass hook.
The lower piece is lined and has a decorated profile.
The dividers are kept in a fitted leather case, lined in green.
- Production date
- 1558
- Dimensions
-
Length: 165 millimetres
-
Width: 18 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
-
- Curator's comments
- The missing gnomon on the upper transverse bar was probably once fixed to a square hole on the smaller transverse bar and on the compass box.
[cf. I. Meliconi, EPACT 1998, http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/epact/catalogue.php?ENumber=35962]
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
1997-2007: ‘A Glimpse of a Universe-Scientific Instruments from Renaissance Germany’ (British Museum, Gallery 44)
- Condition
- Latest: 2 (Jul 2015)
- Acquisition date
- 1888
- Department
- Britain, Europe and Prehistory
- Registration number
- 1888,1201.283
