Nocturnal (front)

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A nocturnal shows the local time at night, by measuring the rotation of the constellations of the Great Bear and the Little Bear around the Pole Star. This brass example was made around 1620, probably in the Flemish workshop of Michael Coignet.

The nocturnal consists of five pieces, connected at the centre of the dial. The photograph shows the front of the instrument. The inner circle is marked from 1-12 twice, while the main dial has calendrical concentric scales.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-102-799-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1981.51
• Date: Around 1620
  c. 1620
  
• Material: Brass
  Nocturnal
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Nocturnal
  
• Subject:
• Who: Michael Coignet, Belgium / France (Maker)
  
• Where: Belgium / France
  
• Event:
• Description: Brass nocturnal, probably made in the Flemish workshop of Michael Coignet, c. 1620
  
• References:
  • Ad. Meskens, Familia Universalis: Coignet. Brussels: 1998, p 157 
• Translations:
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