oval ivory diptych sundial
Date: 1620
Inventory Number: 7542
Classification: Sundial
Subject:
Maker: Conrad Karner (1571 - 1632)
Collector: Harrold Edgar Gillingham (1864 - 1954)
Collector: David P. Wheatland (1898 - 1993)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
closed: 1.3 x 5.1 x 7 cm (1/2 x 2 x 2 3/4 in.)
Description:
Faded black, brown, and green coloring. Brass wire clasps on I and II, hanging loop on II. Compass needle and brass ring intact, glass missing. Hole in II for attaching string gnomon. String gnomon is attached to a brass plumb bob to hold it taut.
la Undecorated.
lb Vertical dial labeled VI-XII-VI in faded black numerals. Large sun-face motif. Signed "CONRAD KARNER" under sun-face. Dated 1620 at top of dial.
Ila Horizontal dial with a single scale for approximate latitude 48°, labeled 4-12-8 in black numerals. Maker's mark (a hunting horn) appears twice in compass bowl. Cardinal directions given in compass bowl as SEPT, ORIE, MERI, and OCCI. Magnetic declination 4 ° east of north. Green and brown foliate decoration.
llb Undecorated, except for the maker's mark above string gnomon hole. Modern paper label reads "Conrad Karner. German 1620/45 Hof. Geneva 250. f." Image inverted for legibility.
la Undecorated.
lb Vertical dial labeled VI-XII-VI in faded black numerals. Large sun-face motif. Signed "CONRAD KARNER" under sun-face. Dated 1620 at top of dial.
Ila Horizontal dial with a single scale for approximate latitude 48°, labeled 4-12-8 in black numerals. Maker's mark (a hunting horn) appears twice in compass bowl. Cardinal directions given in compass bowl as SEPT, ORIE, MERI, and OCCI. Magnetic declination 4 ° east of north. Green and brown foliate decoration.
llb Undecorated, except for the maker's mark above string gnomon hole. Modern paper label reads "Conrad Karner. German 1620/45 Hof. Geneva 250. f." Image inverted for legibility.
Signedon 1b: CONRAD KARNER
on 1b: 1620
on 1b: 1620
Curatorial RemarksLloyd26
ProvenanceHarrold E. Gillingham Collection (inv. no. 103); David P. Wheatland, Topsfield, MA, 1949; gift to CHSI, c.1985.
Published ReferencesSteven A. Lloyd, Ivory Diptych Sundials, 1570-1750 (Cambridge: Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments, 1992), cat. no. 26.