000-100-102-673-C © National Museums Scotland |
|
Diptych sundial (open)
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 (pictured here open) was made in the 17th century in Dieppe in France. It is unsigned.
The inside of the base has a sunk compass surrounded by a horizontal dial.
This is a form of diptych dial known as a magnetic agimuth dial. This type of dial only works effectively when the Earth's magnetic declination is zero, as was the case for Dieppe in the late 17th century.
Record details
To search on related items, click any linked text below.
Online ID: |
000-100-102-673-C |
Image Rights Holder: |
National Museums Scotland |
Project: |
0098: 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
|
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
|
Translations: |
|
Related Records: |
|