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Diptych sundial (detail)

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made in Dieppe, France

Diptych sundial (detail)
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Diptych sundials have two plates hinged together, and in use open out to form a right angle, with the string hinge operating as a gnomon. This ivory example was made in the 17th century in Dieppe in France. The photograph shows the inside of the base.

The sunk compass is surrounded by a horizontal dial. Below the compass needle is a card giving names of French towns and information about them. There is also a magnetic agimuth scale which works together with the revolving disc on the base of the dial.

In the 16th century ivory diptych sundials came from three main centres: Nuremburg and Augsberg in Germany, and Dieppe in France. However, those made in France were rarely signed or dated.

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