Tool · German azimuth dial

Azimuth Dial

Partially verified

This azimuth dial is an unsigned instrument from 16th-century Germany, held by the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford. The sundial is composed of a circular stone tablet, measuring 178 mm in diameter, framed by a gilt brass rim and supported on three brass legs. It features an integrated gilt brass gnomon assembly consisting of a ring mounted on a sliding and rotating pivot. Decorative rearing horses accent the gnomon structure. The stone surface displays complex markings including hour lines, zodiac scales, and inscriptions for cardinal points. A small inset compass is provided for alignment. The reverse side of the tablet contains detailed German language instructions for the user. Provenance for the object includes the Michel and Billmeir collections. The dial is specifically constructed for a latitude of 49 degrees and 30 minutes, with the central gnomon mechanism adjusted for solar date or zodiac position to determine time.

The azimuth dial, showing the circular stone tablet, the central gnomon with rearing horses, and the inset compass. — Museum of the History of Science, Oxford. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source: www.mhs.ox.ac.uk
Category: Tool · German azimuth dial
Maker / attribution: Not established
Reference: Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier: 49364
Source-reported date: 16th century
Source-reported place: Germany

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Construction and Design

The azimuth dial consists of a circular tablet made of stone, which the museum notes might be Solenhofen stone. This tablet is held within a gilt brass rim and elevated on three brass feet. The surface is decorated with a circular band featuring incised, coloured, and gilt foliate patterns. Within this perimeter, the dial displays the cardinal points labelled as ORIENS, MERIDIES, and OCCIDENS, alongside a Latin biblical inscription from Genesis. An inset compass, measuring 18 mm, is positioned to assist the user in orienting the instrument to the meridian.

The gnomon is a central gilt brass component that can slide and rotate around a pivot. It includes a thin ring intended to cast a shadow and is adorned with pairs of rearing horse figures at both ends of the base slot. These figures serve as decorative elements on the pointers used for setting the solar date or the zodiac position. The overall design integrates functional timekeeping scales with structural aesthetic elements.

Evidence for this section

“This sundial consists of a circular tablet of (Solenhofen?) stone, with a gilt brass rim and three brass legs.”
“The gilt brass gnomon is free to slide on and rotate about a central pivot. Its base is a slot at either end of which is a pointer surmounted by a pair of decorative rearing horses.”

Timekeeping Scales and Operation

The dial is engineered for a specific latitude of 49 degrees 30 minutes. The hour lines range from 4 to 12 and back to 8, calibrated against declination lines. These lines are associated with the months of the year, split between June to November at one end and December to May at the other. Users setting the device must account for the sun's position, using either the southern pointer for the date or the northern pointer to align with a zodiac scale that surrounds the compass.

Once the instrument is oriented, the ring casts a shadow used to indicate the time. The zodiac scale is divided into segments of 10 and 5, with numerals for every 10 units. The operational instructions are documented in German on the underside of the stone tablet. This multi-step process allows for time determination based on the sun's azimuth and the seasonal declination.

Evidence for this section

“The instrument, which is constructed for latitude 49? 30', has no indication of maker or date, but the reverse side of the table has lengthy instructions in German.”
“The hour lines are from 4 to 12 to 8, marked at one end of the declination lines with the names of the months from June to November”

Provenance and Documentation

The instrument is catalogued by the Museum of the History of Science in Oxford under the inventory number 49364. Its historical ownership is traced back through two notable collections: the Michel Collection and the Billmeir Collection. The museum records these details as part of its historical documentation of the item. No maker's mark is present on the instrument, and there is no specific date beyond the broader 16th-century attribution provided by the museum.

The object is featured in the Epact catalogue, which provides a description of its components and function. The museum maintains the rights to the images and text associated with this object.

Evidence for this section

“Provenance: Michel Collection; Billmeir Collection (57-84/114).”
“16th century; German”

Open research questions

What specific methods were used to incise the stone surface and apply the gilt foliate decoration?
Are there similar surviving azimuth dials from the 16th century that show the same unique rearing horse motifs?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Azimuth Dial
Field	Source-reported value	Source quotation
Latitude	49 degrees 30 minutes	“Ad Eleuationem Poli Gra: 49 Mi. 30”
Material	Stone and gilt brass	“Stone and gilt brass”
Diameter	178 mm	“178 mm in diameter”
Inscriptions	Cardinal points and Biblical quote	“inscriptions for three of the cardinal points: 'ORIENS', 'MERIDIES' and 'OCCIDENS'.”
Provenance	Michel and Billmeir collections	“Provenance: Michel Collection; Billmeir Collection (57-84/114).”
Maker	Unsigned	“Unsigned”

Visible details

The gnomon assembly features two small decorative rearing horse figures.
The dial surface incorporates a circular band of incised, coloured and gilt foliate decoration.
A small inset compass with an 18 mm diameter is embedded within the stone tablet.
Hour lines are marked for times between 4 and 12 to 8.

Research qualifications

The stone material is only tentatively identified as Solenhofen stone by the museum source.
There is no definitive maker or specific date of manufacture provided for the instrument.

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

Azimuth Dial

Reviewed 2026-10-26 · Record cb5a0274d9

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.