Portable diptych sundial

Construction and Materials

The portable sundial consists of a compact, hinged diptych design primarily fashioned from ivory. The internal surfaces of the two leaves are engraved with precise markings to facilitate solar timekeeping. The construction incorporates metal elements, specifically identified as pewter and brass, which serve both structural and functional roles within the assembly.

The overall footprint of the object is quite small, measuring 2 1/8 by 1 5/8 inches, making it suitable for handheld use. The presence of a string gnomon, visible in the museum's photographic documentation, allows the device to function when the two leaves are positioned at an appropriate angle to one another.

The dial includes an integrated compass set into the base leaf, a common feature for such instruments to ensure correct orientation toward the magnetic north for accurate reading. The exterior of the ivory body shows signs of the museum’s accession marking, 03.21.65, which is visible near the closure mechanism on the case side.

Documentation and Identification

The object is held within the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art and is formally classified within the horological subject tags as a sundial. The institution provides the attribution of the second half of the 17th century, placing the creation of the instrument within this historical range.

Documentation for the piece is managed by the museum’s European Sculpture and Decorative Arts department. While the object is clearly identified through the museum's record-keeping system, the specific workshop or maker remains unrecorded in the available source data.

Provenance and Accession

Accession 03.21.65 serves as the primary identifier for the sundial within the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s permanent collection. The museum's online database makes this information accessible as part of an open-access policy, allowing for the transcription of technical details including material composition and physical dimensions.

The photograph provided shows the item in its open state, with the gnomon deployed and the internal compass visible. This visual record is credited to The Metropolitan Museum of Art and is designated as public domain or CC0. No other provenance information, such as previous private owners or specific acquisition history prior to the museum, is listed in the source provided.