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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Compass watch · Place not recorded

Diptych sundial

Verified

The outside of the oval case is engraved with stylised leaf scrolls interspersed with garnets and emeralds forming a symmetrical decoration of leaves.

Technical facts

Inventory number
MIH V-34
Object type
Compass watch
Dating
first half of the 17th c.
Dimensions (catalogue)
dimensions: 20.7 x 64.5 x 52.8 mm

Historical significance

  • The outside of the oval case is engraved with stylised leaf scrolls interspersed with garnets and emeralds forming a symmetrical decoration of leaves.
  • The inside of the cover is hollowed out to house a perpendicular serving as a plumb-line. Its vertical position can be adjusted by means of a guide-mark on a gilded line.
  • When the sundial is open, a silk thread passes from the upper part of the cover to the central part of the dial. The shadow made by the sun shining on the thread gives the time, indicated by the division lines marked in Roman numerals.
  • The second dial, with divisions marked in Arabic numerals, has a vertical gnomon and indicates "Italian" hours. These are equal hours from 1 to 24, beginning around one half-hour after sunset.

Photographs

Diptych sundial (MIH V-34)
Diptych sundial (MIH V-34) — Musée international d'horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Museum collection photograph, rights review pending. MIH collection record
Diptych sundial (MIH V-34)
Diptych sundial (MIH V-34) — Musée international d'horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Museum collection photograph, rights review pending. MIH collection record
Diptych sundial (MIH V-34)
Diptych sundial (MIH V-34) — Musée international d'horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Museum collection photograph, rights review pending. MIH collection record

Photographs are illustrative examples of the type, not necessarily the exact object described. Verify details against the source file page.

Sources & references

  1. Musée international d'horlogerie, online collection record, inv. V-34: https://collection.mih.ch/fr/collection/item/42694/

Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.