rectangular ivory diptych sundial
Date: 1630
Inventory Number: 7553
Classification: Sundial
Subject:
Maker: Conrad Karner (1571 - 1632)
Collector: Joseph Drecker (1853 - 1931)
Collector: David P. Wheatland (1898 - 1993)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
closed: 1.3 x 6.3 x 9.2 cm (1/2 x 2 1/2 x 3 5/8 in.)
DescriptionFaded black, red, and green coloring. Compass viewing-hole in I, slot with plain brass clasp for wind vane in side of II. Brass hook clasps on I and II, hanging loop, three bun feet on I and four on II. Compass needle and glass intact, metal ring missing.
la Wind rose with 32 points, 16 labeled or abbreviated in German, numbered 1-32 beginning at east, wind vane missing. Foliate decoration.
lb Pin gnomon dial labeled 16-8 and 8-16 in red numerals to indicate hours of day-light and darkness, hour lines labeled 1-12 for planetary hours, and marked with zodiacal symbols. Holes for string gnomon labeled 42°, 45°, 48°, and 51°. Latitude table for 18 European cities (42°-51 ° latitude). Green leaves and several decorative stamps.
Ila Horizontal dial with four scales for latitudes 42° (inner), 45°, 48°, and 51 ° (outer), labeled 4-12-8 in black numerals in outermost scale. Separate pin gnomon dials for Italian hours (left, labeled 10-23 in black numerals) and Babylonian hours (right, labeled 1-14 in black numerals). Maker's mark (hunting horn) appears twice in compass bowl. Cardinal directions given in compass bowl as SEPT, ORIE, MERI, and OCCI. Magnetic declination 3° east of north. Green leaves. Signed "CONRAD KARNER" at bottom.
llb Standard German lunar volvelle, brass disc missing. Scales labeled 1-12 twice (inner) and 1-29 (outer). Epact scale (beginning with 23 and 13, respectively, for the year 1627) in circular form around volvelle, labeled "EPACTA IVLIANI ANNO 1630" [Julian epacts, year 1630] and "EPACTA GREGORI ANNO" [Gregorian epacts, year]. Maker's mark (hunting horn) appears again near hinge. Numbered 7 twice near hinge in red ink (once on a modern paper label). Foliate decoration.
la Wind rose with 32 points, 16 labeled or abbreviated in German, numbered 1-32 beginning at east, wind vane missing. Foliate decoration.
lb Pin gnomon dial labeled 16-8 and 8-16 in red numerals to indicate hours of day-light and darkness, hour lines labeled 1-12 for planetary hours, and marked with zodiacal symbols. Holes for string gnomon labeled 42°, 45°, 48°, and 51°. Latitude table for 18 European cities (42°-51 ° latitude). Green leaves and several decorative stamps.
Ila Horizontal dial with four scales for latitudes 42° (inner), 45°, 48°, and 51 ° (outer), labeled 4-12-8 in black numerals in outermost scale. Separate pin gnomon dials for Italian hours (left, labeled 10-23 in black numerals) and Babylonian hours (right, labeled 1-14 in black numerals). Maker's mark (hunting horn) appears twice in compass bowl. Cardinal directions given in compass bowl as SEPT, ORIE, MERI, and OCCI. Magnetic declination 3° east of north. Green leaves. Signed "CONRAD KARNER" at bottom.
llb Standard German lunar volvelle, brass disc missing. Scales labeled 1-12 twice (inner) and 1-29 (outer). Epact scale (beginning with 23 and 13, respectively, for the year 1627) in circular form around volvelle, labeled "EPACTA IVLIANI ANNO 1630" [Julian epacts, year 1630] and "EPACTA GREGORI ANNO" [Gregorian epacts, year]. Maker's mark (hunting horn) appears again near hinge. Numbered 7 twice near hinge in red ink (once on a modern paper label). Foliate decoration.
Signedon 2a: CONRAD KARNER
on epact scale on 2b: EPACTA IVLIANI ANNO 1630
on epact scale on 2b: EPACTA IVLIANI ANNO 1630
Curatorial RemarksLloyd29
ProvenanceJoseph Drecker, Aachen, Germany, before 1928 (inv. no. 132); Frederik Casparus Wieder, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 1928; David P. Wheatland, Topsfield, MA, 1959; gift to CHSI, ca. 1987.
Published ReferencesSteven A. Lloyd, Ivory Diptych Sundials, 1570-1750 (Cambridge: Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments, 1992), cat. no. 29.