rectangular ivory diptych sundial
Date: 1655
Inventory Number: 7540
Classification: Sundial
Subject:
Maker: Albrecht Karner (1619 - 1687)
Collector: David P. Wheatland (1898 - 1993)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
closed: 1.2 x 5.6 x 9.5 cm (1/2 x 2 3/16 x 3 3/4 in.)
DescriptionBlack, red, brown, and green coloring. Compass viewing-hole in I, slot with brass clasp for wind vane in side of II. Brass wire clasps on I and II and four bun feet on II. Small brass ball is a plumb bob to level the dial; the ball fits into the compass viewing-hole when the diptych is closed. Compass needle, glass, and metal ring missing.
la Wind rose with 16 points and 16 directions labeled in German, wind vane missing. Sun-face motif at center of wind rose. Brown and green foliate decoration.
lb Pin gnomon dial labeled "QVANTITAS DIEI" [length of the day] and 8-16 in red numerals and marked with zodiacal symbols. Vertical dial labeled VI-XII-VI in black numerals. Red asterisk stamps mark the half-hours.
Ila Horizontal dial with a single scale for approximate latitude 49°, labeled 5-12-7 in black numerals. Pin gnomon dial for Babylonian hours (labeled 1-14 in red numerals) and Italian hours (labeled 10-23 in black numerals). Compass bowl with four-winds motif, cardinal directions given as SE, OR, ME, and OC, and maker's mark (hunting horn). Magnetic declination indicated at 5° east and 16° west of north. Two small sun decorations. Small red asterisk stamps. Signed "ALBRECHT KARNER 1655" near bottom.
llb Standard German lunar volvelle with a stamped brass rotating disc (2.1 cm) with index. Scales labeled 1-12 twice (inner and middle) and 1-30 (outer). Man-in-the-moon motif on volvelle. Outer two scales are for correction between lunar and solar time (in hours and minutes). Reddish-brown and green foliate decoration. Maker's mark (hunting horn) appears twice near hinge. Image inverted for legibility.
la Wind rose with 16 points and 16 directions labeled in German, wind vane missing. Sun-face motif at center of wind rose. Brown and green foliate decoration.
lb Pin gnomon dial labeled "QVANTITAS DIEI" [length of the day] and 8-16 in red numerals and marked with zodiacal symbols. Vertical dial labeled VI-XII-VI in black numerals. Red asterisk stamps mark the half-hours.
Ila Horizontal dial with a single scale for approximate latitude 49°, labeled 5-12-7 in black numerals. Pin gnomon dial for Babylonian hours (labeled 1-14 in red numerals) and Italian hours (labeled 10-23 in black numerals). Compass bowl with four-winds motif, cardinal directions given as SE, OR, ME, and OC, and maker's mark (hunting horn). Magnetic declination indicated at 5° east and 16° west of north. Two small sun decorations. Small red asterisk stamps. Signed "ALBRECHT KARNER 1655" near bottom.
llb Standard German lunar volvelle with a stamped brass rotating disc (2.1 cm) with index. Scales labeled 1-12 twice (inner and middle) and 1-30 (outer). Man-in-the-moon motif on volvelle. Outer two scales are for correction between lunar and solar time (in hours and minutes). Reddish-brown and green foliate decoration. Maker's mark (hunting horn) appears twice near hinge. Image inverted for legibility.
Signedsigned on 2a: ALBRECHT KARNER / 1655
Curatorial RemarksLloyd 33
ProvenanceDavid P. Wheatland, Topsfield, MA; gift to CHSI, ca. 1987.
Published ReferencesSteven A. Lloyd, Ivory Diptych Sundials, 1570-1750 (Cambridge: Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments, 1992), cat. no. 33.