rectangular ivory diptych sundial
Date: 1636
Inventory Number: 7568
Classification: Sundial
Subject:
Maker: Leonhart Miller (fl. 1613 - 1649)
Collector: David P. Wheatland (1898 - 1993)
Dimensions:
closed: 1.4 x 7 x 10.8 cm (9/16 x 2 3/4 x 4 1/4 in.)
DescriptionIvory diptych sundial with black, red, and green filler in the incised lines. Slot for wind vane (missing). Four brass bun feet. Brass latch hooks.
1a: Wind rose of 32 points labeled in abbreviated German, with Italian names of 8 winds. Brass arrow indicates the wind direction. Corners of leaf are decorated with the four winds blowing. Stars and clouds are between them. Sun face in center of wind rose. There is a round window through which to view the magnetic compass needle.
1b: Pin gnomon dial for showing the length of day and night at different seasons; time in Italian hours and Babylonian hours. Below this is an image of a village, and a latitude scale made of holes for attaching a string gnomon. Latitudes are 42°, 45°, 48°, 51°, and 54°. Below this is a gazetteer of 24 European cities.
2a: Magnetic compass with wind rose of 16 points marked with abbreviated Latin names of the cardinal points and four little wind faces. The line for north is offset about 5° E for magnetic declination. There is another arrow for magnetic declination at 17° west. The compass needle, glass, and bezel are intact. Around the compass bowl are five concentric hour scales marked for latitudes 42°, 45°, 48°, 51°, and 54°, and labeled 4-12-8 and divided into quarter hours. At the south side is a motto, "GLORIA / SOLI DEO." Below this is a scaphe inscribed with Italian and Babylonian hours, a sun face, and the maker's name and date.
2b: A lunar volvelle has an aspectarium inscribed in the center, with hours 1-12 twice, divided by 1/2 hours around the edge and a pointer. On the ivory leaf, there hours 1-12 twice, followed by the age of the moon 1-29 on the next concentric circle, followed by German phrases for the new, first quarter, full, and last quarter moon. The space around the lunar volvelle is filled with elaborate fruit and vegetation.
1a: Wind rose of 32 points labeled in abbreviated German, with Italian names of 8 winds. Brass arrow indicates the wind direction. Corners of leaf are decorated with the four winds blowing. Stars and clouds are between them. Sun face in center of wind rose. There is a round window through which to view the magnetic compass needle.
1b: Pin gnomon dial for showing the length of day and night at different seasons; time in Italian hours and Babylonian hours. Below this is an image of a village, and a latitude scale made of holes for attaching a string gnomon. Latitudes are 42°, 45°, 48°, 51°, and 54°. Below this is a gazetteer of 24 European cities.
2a: Magnetic compass with wind rose of 16 points marked with abbreviated Latin names of the cardinal points and four little wind faces. The line for north is offset about 5° E for magnetic declination. There is another arrow for magnetic declination at 17° west. The compass needle, glass, and bezel are intact. Around the compass bowl are five concentric hour scales marked for latitudes 42°, 45°, 48°, 51°, and 54°, and labeled 4-12-8 and divided into quarter hours. At the south side is a motto, "GLORIA / SOLI DEO." Below this is a scaphe inscribed with Italian and Babylonian hours, a sun face, and the maker's name and date.
2b: A lunar volvelle has an aspectarium inscribed in the center, with hours 1-12 twice, divided by 1/2 hours around the edge and a pointer. On the ivory leaf, there hours 1-12 twice, followed by the age of the moon 1-29 on the next concentric circle, followed by German phrases for the new, first quarter, full, and last quarter moon. The space around the lunar volvelle is filled with elaborate fruit and vegetation.
In Collection(s)
Signedon scaphe on 2a: LEONHART MILLER / 1636
on 2b: L [fleur-de-lys] M
on 2b: L [fleur-de-lys] M
FunctionDiptych sundials are usually pocket-sized dials made of two hinged leaves. They usually have furniture to find the time according to different hour systems and for different latitudes. Many have a gazetteer. Some have quadrants, wind vanes, and epact tables.
ProvenanceR.A.T. Lier, 1950; David P. Wheatland, Topsfield, MA; gift to CHSI, ca. 1987.
Published ReferencesSteven A. Lloyd, Ivory Diptych Sundials, 1580-1750 (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1992), cat. no. 20.