miniature ivory and wood diptych sundial
Date: circa 1620
Inventory Number: 7546
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: 0.9 x 3.1 x 4.5 cm (3/8 x 1 1/4 x 1 3/4 in.)
Description:
Faded black, red, and blue coloring. Outer face of I is curved. Brass wire clasps on I broken. Brass pin on face Ila to keep dial leaves aligned. Compass needle and glass intact. Hole in II through which to attach string. II is cracked lengthwise between this attachment hole and the edge.
la Undecorated.
lb Vertical dial labeled VI-Xll-VI in black numerals. Circular decoration.
Ila Horizontal dial with a single scale for approximate latitude 48°, labeled 4-12-8 in black numerals. Cardinal directions given in compass bowl. Magnetic declination about 8° east of north. Two small red star stamps.
llb Undecorated, except for a very faint maker's mark (hunting horn) near string gnomon hole. It resembles the mark of Conrad Karner more than that of his son, Albrecht. Numbered 206(?) in red ink.
la Undecorated.
lb Vertical dial labeled VI-Xll-VI in black numerals. Circular decoration.
Ila Horizontal dial with a single scale for approximate latitude 48°, labeled 4-12-8 in black numerals. Cardinal directions given in compass bowl. Magnetic declination about 8° east of north. Two small red star stamps.
llb Undecorated, except for a very faint maker's mark (hunting horn) near string gnomon hole. It resembles the mark of Conrad Karner more than that of his son, Albrecht. Numbered 206(?) in red ink.
Signedunsigned
Curatorial RemarksLloyd37
ProvenanceJoseph Drecker, Aachen, Germany, before 1928 (inv. no.135); 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. 37.