inclining sundial
Date: circa 1720
Inventory Number: 7074
Classification: Sundial
Subject:
Maker: Edmund Culpeper (fl. 1684-1737)
Collector: David P. Wheatland (1898 - 1993)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
City of Use:
Dimensions:
2 cm, 0.55 lb., 6 cm (13/16 in., 0.3 kg, 2 3/8 in.)
Descriptioninclining sundial with Arabic gazetteer
This is a small, silver inclining dial mounted over a large, central magnetic compass.
The base is the bowl of the magnetic compass framed by an octagonal bezel. The top of this bezel is plain, except for a hinged latitude arm on the western side. Latitudes are marked 0°-50° and divided every 2° from 0° to 60°. The silver spring for the latitude arm is plain.
Hinged to the northern side of the base is an inclining octagonal frame on which is engraved the hour scale. The scale reads from IIII-XII-VIII, and is divided every 5 minutes. The hour scale is terminated by two engraved acanthus leaves. The folding gnomon is mounted on scrolling arms that reach across the central opening of an octagonal frame. The gnomon is ornamented with engraved, scrolling acanthus leaves. It is designed for latitude of 60°. The gnomon's spring, on the underside of the inclining plate, is engraved with a humorous grotesque.
The magnetic compass has an 8-point wind rose on a rotating disk, with the north point indicated by a t-point rather than a fleur-de-lys. Cardinal points are labeled with the initials in English around the circumference of the disk. Magnetic declination from 30°W to 30°E is divided every degree on either side of north. On the underside of the compass box, there is a knob that travels in a curved slot. Pushing the knob will rotate the wind rose disk to set it for the local declination. A pointing hand is engraved adjacent to the slot. The magnetic needle is blued steel with a t-bar at north and a stylized feathering at the south end.
The underside of the compass box has a gazetteer marked in Arabic characters six localities in the Muslim world and in English for London. The localities include Mecca at 21° and Morocco at 31°. The spelling for Morocco is a transliteration of the European place name into Arabic letters. Mecca has an odd grammar. The names of the cities for 33° and 35° are difficult to interpret, and the one inscribed above Mecca does not include its own latitude. There is a running leaf decoration around the circumference of the bottom of the compass box.
This is a small, silver inclining dial mounted over a large, central magnetic compass.
The base is the bowl of the magnetic compass framed by an octagonal bezel. The top of this bezel is plain, except for a hinged latitude arm on the western side. Latitudes are marked 0°-50° and divided every 2° from 0° to 60°. The silver spring for the latitude arm is plain.
Hinged to the northern side of the base is an inclining octagonal frame on which is engraved the hour scale. The scale reads from IIII-XII-VIII, and is divided every 5 minutes. The hour scale is terminated by two engraved acanthus leaves. The folding gnomon is mounted on scrolling arms that reach across the central opening of an octagonal frame. The gnomon is ornamented with engraved, scrolling acanthus leaves. It is designed for latitude of 60°. The gnomon's spring, on the underside of the inclining plate, is engraved with a humorous grotesque.
The magnetic compass has an 8-point wind rose on a rotating disk, with the north point indicated by a t-point rather than a fleur-de-lys. Cardinal points are labeled with the initials in English around the circumference of the disk. Magnetic declination from 30°W to 30°E is divided every degree on either side of north. On the underside of the compass box, there is a knob that travels in a curved slot. Pushing the knob will rotate the wind rose disk to set it for the local declination. A pointing hand is engraved adjacent to the slot. The magnetic needle is blued steel with a t-bar at north and a stylized feathering at the south end.
The underside of the compass box has a gazetteer marked in Arabic characters six localities in the Muslim world and in English for London. The localities include Mecca at 21° and Morocco at 31°. The spelling for Morocco is a transliteration of the European place name into Arabic letters. Mecca has an odd grammar. The names of the cities for 33° and 35° are difficult to interpret, and the one inscribed above Mecca does not include its own latitude. There is a running leaf decoration around the circumference of the bottom of the compass box.
Signedon underside of compass frame: Culpeper / Londini
Inscribed(text written in Arabic)
FunctionAn inclining dial is similar to a horizontal dial for a fixed latitude, but its plate may be angled to make it serve for many different latitudes.
Historical AttributesThe grammar and spellings of the Arabic localities on the gazetteer make them hard to translate and indicate that the work was done in London by a non-Arabic speaker. Perhaps Edmund Culpeper tried to customize this instrument for an Arabic or Muslim traveler.
Curatorial RemarksSonja Brentjes kindly read the Arabic on the gazetteer in 2007.
ProvenanceE. Weil; David P. Wheatland, Topsfield, MA, 1961; gift to CHSI, ca. 1987.