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 lid. Near the top is a pin gnomon dial labelled 'QVANTITAS DIEI' ['Length of the day'] and 8-13 in numerals. Below is a vertical dial labelled VI-XII-VI in Roman numerals. The centre has a sun-face motif.

In the two lower corners are engravings of a comet or meteor, picked out in red. However, these regularly appear on dials from the Miller workshop and do not appear to correspond to recorded appearances of comets or meteors.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-001-019-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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