Augsburg-type sundial
Date: circa 1700
Inventory Number: 7016
Classification: Sundial
Subject:
Maker: Louis Chapotot (fl. 1670 - 1700)
Maker: Jean Chapotot (fl. 1676 - 1721)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
latitude arm raised: 4.1 × 5.5 × 6.9 cm (1 5/8 × 2 3/16 × 2 11/16 in.)
closed: 1.2 × 5.5 × 6.9 cm (1/2 × 2 3/16 × 2 11/16 in.)
DescriptionThis octagonal, silver sundial stands on two turned feet. The dial plate is intricately engraved with a floral motif and has mirror images of birds and a face at the northern end.
The compass has an engraved eight-point wind rose in the center that divides it into eight sections, with the French names for the cardinal and ordinal directions on each corresponding arm. There is an angular scale of 0°-90°-0°-90° subdivided into 2° increments around the perimeter. The compass needle is pin shaped, with a pierced circle at the base of the northern side.
The equatorial ring is engraved on the top with a continuous circular hour scale, marked I-XII twice with divisions every fifteen minutes. The underside of the ring has a gazetteer with the names and latitudes of six European cities.The sundial's gnomon is a pin mounted to the center of a rotating, bowed bar that bridges the 6 o'clock hours.
The latitude arm is engraved on the outside-facing surface with northern latitudes from 0° to 74° marked every 5° and further divided into 1° increments. The opposite surface of the arm is engraved with two cities (Hamburg and Stockholm) and their latitudes.
The underside of the compass bowl has more intricate floral engravings. The underside of the compass box has a gazetteer with 20 European cities and their latitudes, with the maker’s signature at the southern end. Including the cities on other surfaces, this sundial lists 28 European cities in total.
The compass has an engraved eight-point wind rose in the center that divides it into eight sections, with the French names for the cardinal and ordinal directions on each corresponding arm. There is an angular scale of 0°-90°-0°-90° subdivided into 2° increments around the perimeter. The compass needle is pin shaped, with a pierced circle at the base of the northern side.
The equatorial ring is engraved on the top with a continuous circular hour scale, marked I-XII twice with divisions every fifteen minutes. The underside of the ring has a gazetteer with the names and latitudes of six European cities.The sundial's gnomon is a pin mounted to the center of a rotating, bowed bar that bridges the 6 o'clock hours.
The latitude arm is engraved on the outside-facing surface with northern latitudes from 0° to 74° marked every 5° and further divided into 1° increments. The opposite surface of the arm is engraved with two cities (Hamburg and Stockholm) and their latitudes.
The underside of the compass bowl has more intricate floral engravings. The underside of the compass box has a gazetteer with 20 European cities and their latitudes, with the maker’s signature at the southern end. Including the cities on other surfaces, this sundial lists 28 European cities in total.
Signedon underside of compass bowl: CHAPOTOT A PARIS
FunctionTime-finding by orienting the gnomon to point toward the North Pole with the aid of a magnetic compass and an angular adjustment for latitiude.
Curatorial RemarksWritten description in file for 7016 does not match this sundial.
Very similar to the Chapotot dial, 1680-1681 (E3) p. 266 in the Galerie Delalande, 2013. both have niello and similar exquisite features.
Very similar to the Chapotot dial, 1680-1681 (E3) p. 266 in the Galerie Delalande, 2013. both have niello and similar exquisite features.