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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Tool · Italian quadrant

Wood Solar Quadrant

Partially verified

This 16th-century Italian solar quadrant, inventory number 1306, is constructed of wood with a radius of 102 mm. Signed by Joseph Pinam, the instrument serves to measure the sun's height to determine the time. One face features hour lines and a calendar scale, while the reverse side displays a 16-point wind rose. The instrument design utilizes ink inscriptions, with black and red lines distinguishing morning and afternoon hours. Sighting is facilitated by a brass point and a drilled block on the edge, although the original plumb-line is currently missing. The instrument was formerly part of the collection bequeathed by Vincenzo Viviani to the Ospedale Santa Maria Nuova, before its eventual transfer to the Museo Antichi Strumenti.

Wood solar quadrant signed by Joseph Pinam with hour lines and solar calendar markings, 16th century.
Wood solar quadrant signed by Joseph Pinam with hour lines and solar calendar markings, 16th century. — Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza, Firenze. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.mhs.ox.ac.uk
Category
Tool · Italian quadrant
Maker / attribution
Joseph Pinam
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
1306
Source-reported date
16th century
Source-reported place
Italy

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 Functionality

The quadrant is fabricated from wood with a 102 mm radius. The device is designed to measure the height of the sun to indicate the time. The sighting mechanism consists of blocks at each end of the edge, with the upper block drilled to allow a spot of light to strike a brass point set at the center. Originally, a plumb-line was attached to a brass eye that could swivel around a central pin, though this component is now absent from the instrument.

Operation of the device required tilting the quadrant while observing the sun through the sighting edge to allow the height to be read from the hour lines. A specific calendar scale is inscribed along the edge, which provides readings to a five-day interval.

Evidence for this section
  • “The instrument could be used to tell the time, by measuring the height of the sun.”
  • “The quadrant was tilted while the sun was being observed through it, allowing its height to be displayed.”
  • “The sighting edge has blocks at each end the upper being drilled through the centre so that a spot of light may fall on a brass point set at the centre of the other.”

Inscriptions and Graphics

One face of the quadrant is detailed with hour lines and an instruction in Latin reading 'LINI RVBEI POST NIGRE ANTE MERIDIEM'. This instruction guides the user, indicating that red lines are for the afternoon and black lines are for the morning. The arcs for the equator and the tropics are rendered in red ink with black labels. The morning hour scale is further subdivided into 10-minute intervals along the non-sighting side, whereas the afternoon hours remain undivided.

The reverse side contains a 16-point wind-rose diagram executed in black and red ink. The main directions of this compass are indicated against red branches, utilizing traditional Mediterranean names such as 'Tramontana', 'Mezzodi', 'Greco', 'Lebeche', 'Levante', 'Ponente', 'Syrocho', and 'Maestrale'.

Evidence for this section
  • “LINI RVBEI POST NIGRE ANTE MERIDIEM”
  • “The morning hours are subdivided to 10 minutes by a scale drawn down the non-sighting side of the instrument; the afternoon hours are not sub-divided.”
  • “On the back of the instrument a diagram of a 16-point wind-rose is drawn in red and black ink, the main directions being indicated against the red branches by initial letters using the traditional Mediterranean wind names”

Provenance and Documentation

The instrument was part of the collection bequeathed by Vincenzo Viviani (1622–1703) to the Ospedale Santa Maria Nuova. Following its time at the Ospedale, the object was moved to the Museo Antichi Strumenti at the conclusion of the 19th century.

The maker, Joseph Pinam, is noted in the signature, but historical documentation regarding his identity or professional background remains unavailable.

Evidence for this section
  • “From the collection of instruments bequeathed by Vincenzo Viviani (1622-1703) to the Ospedale Santa Maria Nuova and transferred to the Museo Antichi Strumenti at the end of the 19th century.”
  • “This small wooden quadrant bears hour lines depicted on one face, together with the signature Joseph Pinam , about whom we have no information.”

Open research questions

  • What is the specific geographical or functional origin of the 'Joseph Pinam' signature in 16th-century Italian instrument making?
  • Are there remaining functional remnants of the original plumb-line assembly beyond the brass eye?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Wood Solar Quadrant
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerJoseph Pinam“Signed by Joseph Pinam”
MaterialWood“Wood; 102 mm in radius”
Dating16th century“16th century; Italian”
Inventory Number1306“Inventory number: 1306”
Inscribed InstructionLINI RVBEI POST NIGRE ANTE MERIDIEM“LINI RVBEI POST NIGRE ANTE MERIDIEM”
ProvenanceVincenzo Viviani“This solar quadrant belonged to Vincenzo Viviani, Galileo's last disciple.”

Visible details

  • Sighting edge features a brass point and a drilled block
  • Inked inscriptions distinguish morning and afternoon hours using colors
  • 16-point wind rose diagram on the reverse face

Research qualifications

  • The plumb-line is missing from the original assembly
  • Information regarding the maker Joseph Pinam is currently unknown

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

Consulted source

Quadrant

Reviewed 2026-10-26 · Record 4801b0cfcb

Terms in this record

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

Other italian quadrant records