Skip to content
The Encyclopedia of Horology

Tool · Portable sundial

Folding Compass and Sundial

Partially verified

This portable folding compass and sundial was constructed from ivory with steel fittings. The object was produced in Marseilles, France, by the maker Henri Robert, active circa 1650. The exterior of the ivory case is decorated with engraved black ink, featuring a dial, calendar, and the coat of arms of the Marquis de Montigny, who served as governor of the castle of Dieppe between 1641 and 1674. The interior assembly includes a steel dial, a circular calendar pointer, and an integrated magnetic compass with a glass cover and needle. A table of latitudes is present on the reverse, executed on coloured paper.

The exterior of the folding ivory sundial featuring the armorial bearings of the Marquis de Montigny.
The exterior of the folding ivory sundial featuring the armorial bearings of the Marquis de Montigny. — Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
collections.vam.ac.uk
Category
Tool · Portable sundial
Maker / attribution
Henri Robert
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
A.53-1923
Source-reported date
ca. 1641 - ca. 1674
Source-reported place
France

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 instrument is composed of an ivory housing with engraved black ink details. The folding design allows for the protection of the internal mechanisms when not in use. It is secured by small metal clasps.

The exterior face displays a calendar layout surrounding the armorial bearings of the Marquis de Montigny. The interior reveals a circular steel plate engraved with a calendar and a central compass, which is protected by a glass lens. A table of latitudes on coloured paper is located on the reverse side of the device.

Evidence for this section
  • “Folding compass and dial; the exterior is engraved with a dial and calendar”
  • “The interior is fitted with a steel dial and calendar with circular pointer and a compass, with glass and needle complete, at the back of which is a table of latitutes in coloured paper”

Signature and Attribution

The instrument bears an inscription identifying the maker as Henri Robert of Marseilles. The piece is attributed to a period between 1641 and 1674, corresponding to the tenure of the Marquis de Montigny as governor of the castle of Dieppe.

Historical analysis suggests an overlap in stylistic influence. While the object is signed as a product of Marseilles, researchers have identified stylistic traits associated with sundial production in Dieppe. Trade documentation from 1645 confirms links between the two regions.

Evidence for this section
  • “'FAIT PAR HENRI ROBERT MARSEILLE'”
  • “Ickowicz has commented on the puzzling fact that this dial is in the style of those made in Dieppe, and yet is signed by an artist working in Marseilles.”

Provenance and History

The sundial was donated to the collection in 1923 by Mrs. Ellen Hearn. It is recorded as part of the Alfred Williams Hearn gift, a collection which included various other objects transferred to the museum at the same time.

The inclusion of the coat of arms for the Marquis de Montigny links the object to an individual who was a governor of the castle of Dieppe during the seventeenth century.

Evidence for this section
  • “Given by Mrs Ellen Hearn, in 1923”
  • “This and other objects presented at the same time were labelled as the Alfred Williams Hearn gift.”

Open research questions

  • What specific guild regulations or production patterns in 17th-century Marseilles account for the Dieppe-style aesthetic?
  • To what extent did Henri Robert utilize established Dieppe patterns or templates for his commissions?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Folding Compass and Sundial
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerHenri, Robert“FAIT PAR HENRI ROBERT MARSEILLE”
Accession numberA.53-1923“A.53-1923”
Dateca. 1641 - ca. 1674“ca. 1641 - ca. 1674”
Materialsivory, steel, paper“ivory, partly painted, engraved in black, with steel fittings and coloured paper”
Place of originMarseilles, France“Marseilles (made)”
ProvenanceGift of Mrs. Ellen Hearn“Given by Mrs Ellen Hearn, in 1923”
Dimensions10.2 cm x 8.5 cm x 1 cm“Depth: 10.2 cm; Width: 8.5 cm; Height: 1 cm”

Visible details

  • Engraved armorial bearings on the exterior
  • Steel circular calendar dial with numeric grid
  • Integrated compass with needle and glass cover
  • Hinged folding construction with clasp

Research qualifications

  • Uncertainty remains regarding the stylistic link to Dieppe workshops versus the Marseilles signature
  • The exact date of production remains an approximation within the 1641-1674 range

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

Consulted source

Sundial

Reviewed 2026-10-26 · Record 0f36483d57

Terms in this record

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