Diptych sundial (closed)

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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 lid.

The outside of the lid has a circular equinoctial dial and a central polar dial within it. The pin gnomon in the centre is missing.

Polar dials are rare on German diptych dials, but relatively common on French examples. Like the equinoctial dial, the polar dial can be used at any latitude if the angle is correctly adjusted.

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• Online ID: 000-190-001-028-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1924.13
• Date: 17th century
  
• Material: Ivory, metal disc. Inscription: [On base] Names of French towns with information concerning them
  Sundial, universal
  
• Dimensions: 2.88" x 2.38"
  
• What: Sundial, universal
  
• Subject: 20. TIME MEASUREMENT, Sundials (Departmental Classification)
  
• Who:
• Where: FRANCE
  France, Dieppe
  
• Event:
• Description: French universal sundial in ivory, book form, base with sunk compass surrounded by horizontal dial, analemmatic dial, moon dial and equinoctial and polar dials, unsigned, Dieppe, 17th century
  
• References:
  • For a similar example, see Lloyd, Steven A., Ivory Diptych Sundials 1570-1750. London & Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard, 1992. p 128, also pp 23-4 
• Translations:
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