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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Tool · Chalice dial

Chalice Dial by Bartholomaeus Madauer

Partially verified

This chalice dial, held by the British Museum (inventory MLA 1896,12-14.1), is a gilt brass altitude dial dated 1554. Measuring 105 mm in diameter, the instrument was crafted by Bartholomaeus Madauer, abbot of Aldersbach. It functions by rotating the chalice until the shadow of a central pin gnomon falls across an inscribed inner surface. This surface features a date scale utilizing zodiacal signs, an hour scale numbered I to VIII and IIII to XII, and a vertical scale for solar altitude ranging from 0 to 65 degrees. The dial is calibrated for a latitude of 48 degrees. The object is recognized as the earliest extant example of its type, representing a group of chalice dials originating in southern Germany. The central gnomon is reported to be a replacement, and the joint between the chalice cup and foot is embellished with a raised acanthus-leaf ornament.

The gilt brass chalice dial showing the inner cup, the central pin gnomon, and the engraved scales, cartouche, and zodiacal signs.
The gilt brass chalice dial showing the inner cup, the central pin gnomon, and the engraved scales, cartouche, and zodiacal signs. — British Museum, London. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.mhs.ox.ac.uk
Category
Tool · Chalice dial
Maker / attribution
Bartholomaeus Madauer
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
MLA 1896,12-14.1
Source-reported date
1554
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 chalice dial is constructed from gilt brass with a total diameter of 105 mm. The exterior of the cup is plain, maintaining a minimalist appearance, while the transition between the cup and the foot is detailed with a raised acanthus-leaf decorative element.

The internal space of the cup serves as the primary functional surface. It is densely engraved with a complex system of scales required for altitude and timekeeping. These include an hour scale divided into eight curved lines and a specialized vertical scale measuring solar altitude from 0 to 65 degrees, divided by 5-degree increments.

Evidence for this section
  • “Gilt brass; 105 mm in diameter”
  • “The outside of the chalice is plain, only the joint between the cup and the foot is decorated with a raised acanthus-leaf.”
  • “A vertical scale of solar altitudes runs from 0? to 65?, numbered by 5? and divided to 1?.”

Function and Operation

The instrument operates as an altitude dial, specifically calibrated for 48 degrees latitude. Users determine the time by aligning the shadow of a central pin gnomon against the zodiacal signs engraved on the inner surface, which account for seasonal shifts in solar altitude throughout the year.

Beyond determining the time in equal hours, the chalice allows for the measurement of solar altitude. By rotating the vessel until the shadow cast by the tip of the gnomon aligns with the vertical altitude scale, the user can observe the current solar angle.

Evidence for this section
  • “The chalice is rotated until the shadow of the pin gnomon projecting inwards lies in the correct month which can be identified by the zodiacal sign”
  • “The chalice can also be turned until the shadow of the tip of the gnomon falls on the solar altitude scale thus indicating the solar altitude”
  • “The instrument is laid out for latitude 48?”

Signatures and Attribution

The dial carries a prominent cartouche engraved on the inner surface of the cup. This inscription identifies the maker as Bartholomaeus Madauer, the Abbot of Aldersbach, and includes the date of manufacture, 1554. An additional inscription around the bottom of the interior identifies the latitude setting for the device.

The item is catalogued under registration number MLA 1896,12-14.1 at the British Museum. Historical records indicate that Madauer was active between 1552 and 1579, and the museum identifies this object as the earliest known example of this specific dial type.

Evidence for this section
  • “Signed by Bartholomaeus Madauer”
  • “The name of the maker and the date 'BARTHOLOMEUS ABBAS ALDERPACENSIS FACIEBAT ANNO MDLIIII' are engraved in a cartouche on the inner surface.”
  • “Around the bottom of the inside of the cup is the inscription 'HOROLOGIVM IN CRATERE AD ELENA{TIO} [recte: elevatio] PO{lis} 48' indicate the latitude for which the dial serves.”

Open research questions

  • What specific archival evidence confirms the attribution of the acanthus-leaf style to the Aldersbach workshop in 1554?
  • Are there significant material or stylistic differences between this 1554 dial and the lost Munich Kunstkammer example?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Chalice Dial by Bartholomaeus Madauer
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerBartholomaeus Madauer“Signed by Bartholomaeus Madauer”
Date1554“Dated 1554; Aldersbach”
MaterialGilt brass“Gilt brass; 105 mm in diameter”
Latitude48 degrees“The instrument is laid out for latitude 48?, thus corresponding roughly to the latitude of Passau.”
Inventory NumberMLA 1896,12-14.1“Registration no. MLA 1896,12-14.1”
InscriptionBARTHOLOMEUS ABBAS ALDERPACENSIS FACIEBAT ANNO MDLIIII“The name of the maker and the date 'BARTHOLOMEUS ABBAS ALDERPACENSIS FACIEBAT ANNO MDLIIII' are engraved in a cartouche on the inner surface.”
StatusEarliest recorded chalice dial“It is the earliest extant chalice dial of ten so far recorded.”

Visible details

  • Inner surface engraved with hour and altitude scales
  • Acanthus-leaf decoration at the junction of cup and foot
  • Central gnomon present within the cup
  • Zodiacal symbols inscribed in pairs for date tracking

Research qualifications

  • The central gnomon is noted as a replacement
  • The original function of the object as a dial is based on the inscribed scales and geometry

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

Consulted source

Chalice Dial

Reviewed 2026-10-26 · Record b0bd48534a

Terms in this record

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