Diptych sundial (open)

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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 (pictured here open) was made in 1617, by Lienhart Miler of Nuremburg in Germany.

The photograph shows the inside of the base. There is a sunken compass bowl with the fleur-de-lys maker's mark identified with Leinhart. Below is a horizontal dial with Italian and Babylonian hours, and the maker's inscription 'LEINHART MILER 1617'.

This appears to be one of the 'smaller standard model' sundial produced in large quantities for over 30 years by the Miller workshop.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-001-018-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1924.10
• Date: 1617
  
• Material: Ivory, inlaid metal. Inscription: [On base] Italian and Babylonian hours; [inside lid] length of days
  Sundial, portable
  
• Dimensions: 3.63" x 2.25"
  
• What: Sundial, portable
  
• Subject: 20. TIME MEASUREMENT, Sundials (Departmental Classification)
  
• Who: Lienhart Miler, Nuremburg (Sundial maker)
  
• Where: Germany, Nuremburg
  
• Event:
• Description: Portable sundial in ivory, book form, base with sunk compass and engraved with a horizontal dial and Italian and Babylonian hours, made by Lienhart Miler, Nuremburg, 1617
  
• References:
  • For a comparable example, see Lloyd, Steven A., Ivory Diptych Sundials 1570-1750. London & Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard, 1992. p 68 
• Translations:
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