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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Prague, Not recorded · c. 1538–1606

Erasmus Habermel

Partially verified

Maker of astronomical and geodetical instruments

Life & work

Erasmus Habermel likely began his career in southern Germany before passing through Nuremberg to reach Prague.

He served as a court instrument maker for Emperor Rudolf II, receiving an official appointment in 1593 or 1594. His client list included notable figures such as the astronomer Tycho Brahe and the emperor's personal physician, Francesco Padua di Forli. Habermel's instruments are noted for both their technical precision and their artistic Renaissance aesthetic.

The fuller biography summarises the open references listed under Sources; each statement was checked against the cited passage. Confirm key dates in period documents before relying on them.

Training, contributions & innovations

  • The instrument maker contributed to the scientific record through the design of items documenting magnetic declination.

Documented works

  • A brass box signed by the maker in 1576 serves as the earliest currently identified example of his work.
  • Documented instruments from his hand include a sextant produced for the astronomer Tycho Brahe.

Collecting significance

The catalogued pieces listed on this page show the kinds of objects auction houses, dealers and museums attribute to this maker; each attribution is the source's own.

Firms, key models & movements

No firm, model or movement in this encyclopedia is yet recorded under this maker's name.

In the object catalogue

5 catalogued objects are recorded under Erasmus Habermel. Attributions are as given by each source and are not independent authentication.

Diagram

12345let downstripcleanoilregulateorder of work; never skip letting down the mainspring
Schematic: order of work at the bench. An outline schematic drawn to show the arrangement of the parts discussed here. It is not a dimensioned working drawing and does not depict a particular maker's calibre.

Sources & references

  1. Erasmus Habermehl, Wikipedia (English), retrieved 2026-11-03 (text CC BY-SA 4.0)
  2. Erasmus Habermehl, Wikipedia (German), retrieved 2026-11-03 (text CC BY-SA 4.0)

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