- Museum number
- 1926,1016.1
- Description
-
The main section of this gilt brass horizontal sundial consists of a square plate standing on four bun feet.
On the UPPER SURFACE of the plate stands a COMPASS, with the cardinal points labelled 'Septentrio', 'Oriens', 'Meridies', 'Occidens', and magnetic deviation marked. Surrounding the compass box is a degree scale in two quadrants, divided to 10 and to 5, subdivided to 1°, numbered from 10 to 90 by 10 with 0 at the top. Below are the inscription 'Declinatio magnetis' and the signature of the maker. The centre of the plate is engraved with hour lines and latitudes.
The latitude lines, twice inscribed: 'Numerus elevationis', are concentric circles engraved and numbered from 10 to 85 by 10. The three main lines with the numbering are dotted.
The hour lines are engraved every quarter-hour and numbered with a dotted line from 4 to 12 to 8. Near the outside border are the inscriptions 'Horae post meridiem' and 'Horae ante meridiem'.
The remaining space between the hour lines, the circles enclosing them and the compass is filled with decoration of fruits and foliage.
The circle itself is a ring inscribed with the names of the main winds: 'Notus', 'M libonot', 'Libonotus', 'V. libonot', 'Noto Libicus', 'M Aphrics', 'Aphricus', 'V Aphrics', 'Zephirus', 'M Corus', 'Corus', 'V Corus', 'Boro Libicus', 'M Circius', 'Circius', 'V Circius', 'Septen:', 'V Aquilo', 'Aquilo', 'M Aquilo', 'Bora Peliotes', 'V Caecias', 'Caecias', 'M Caecias', 'Subsolanus', 'V Eurus', 'Curus', 'M Eurus', 'Nota Peliotes', 'V Phoenix', 'Phoenix', 'M Phoenix'. The corners of the plate are decorated with geometrical motifs and arabesques.
On this side of the plate is also a folding QUADRANT arm inscribed: 'Numerus Elevationis poli', with a wind vane at the top and a plumb bob hanging from it. The decorated arm has teeth on its upper side, corresponding to a scale of altitudes on the other side, with one tooth per degree. The scale is numbered from 20 to 85 by 5.
On the UNDERSIDE of the plate is a VOLVELLE with a rotating TOP part engraved with a sun effigy and an hour scale, divided to the quarter hour, numbered from 1 to 24. On its INDEX arm, which has a decorated end, is a zodiac scale inscribed 'Ortus solis Horae ab Or{tus} Quan: nocti', divided to 10° and numbered by 10 from 10 to 30, with the zodiacal symbols.
On the VOLVELLE itself is a scale of hours, divided to the quarter hour, numbered from 1 to 24. Its index is inscribed : 'Occas. solis Horae ab Oc{casus} Quan: diei' with the same zodiacal scale.
Around the volvelle the plate is engraved with hours, divided to the quarter-hour, numbered 1 to 12 twice. Around these hour lines latitude lines are engraved by 2°, numbered 10 to 90 by 10. Every 10 degrees the line is dotted. The cardinal points are labelled: 'Septentrio', 'Oriens', 'Meridies', 'Occides'. Around the latitude lines is a zodiac scale, with the symbols of the zodiacal signs and their names in Latin. The scale is divided to 10° and to 5°, subdivided to one, and numbered from 10 to 30 by 10. Surrounding it is a calendar scale, divided to one day, numbered from 10 to 30 or 31 or 28 as appropriate. The equinoxes are at 23rd September and 21st March. The names of the months are engraved in Latin. In use, both brass arms are adjusted symmetrically so that the position on the zodiac scale corresponds to the latitude of use. The times of sunrise in Italian hours and of sunset in Babylonian hours, corresponding to the length of the night and of the day, can be read on the corresponding volvelles.
The spandrels are decorated with geometrical motives and arabesques. A brass arm on the left hand side serves to keep the latitude arm on the other side of the plate.
- Production date
- 1585-1595 (ca. 1590)
- Dimensions
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Length: 190 millimetres (square)
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Width: 190 millimetres (square)
- $Inscriptions
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- Curator's comments
- This horizontal dial is a fine example of Erasmus Habermel's work, with a typical decoration of engraved geometrical motives and arabesques.
Due to the construction of the gnomon (a plumb bob hanging from a curved arm) it can only be used for a certain range of latitudes although all latitudes between 0° and 90° are marked.
The back of the plate contains an ingenious device: when the two index arms are adjusted symmetrically the time of sunrise and sunset in Italian and Babylonian hours, corresponding to the length of the night and of the day, can be read directly.
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
2019-2020, 8 Nov-1 Mar, Denmark, Copenhagen, National Museum of Denmark, Germany: Memories of a Nation
2016-2017 7 Oct-9 Jan, Berlin, Martin-Gropius-Bau, The British View: Germany – Memories of a Nation
G35 Germany Exhibition 16 Oct 2014 - 25 Jan 2015
1997-2007: ‘A Glimpse of a Universe-Scientific Instruments from Renaissance Germany’ (British Museum, Gallery 44)
- Condition
- Latest: Verdigris on underside around foot (near february) and on hinge of gnomon scale. String-gnomon missing.
- Acquisition date
- 1926
- Department
- Britain, Europe and Prehistory
- Registration number
- 1926,1016.1