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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Nuremberg, Germany · Hans I (c.1513–1550), Hans II (1536–1615), Hans III (1547–1632)

Hans Tucher

Partially verified

Nuremberg compass and ivory sundial makers

Life & work

The Tucher family produced instruments across multiple generations in Nuremberg, with three successive masters known as Hans Tucher appearing between 1537 and 1632.

Hans II worked in the Grasergasse area of the city until his death, while Hans III, known as 'The Elder,' maintained a workshop in Maiengasse. In his final years, Hans III was admitted to the Mendel Zwoelfbruederhaus, a charitable institution for elderly craftsmen in Nuremberg, where he remained until his death in 1632.

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

  • They were instrumental in the production of ivory sundials during the late 16th and early 17th centuries.

Documented works

  • A diptych dial featuring the maker's signature and snake trademark was brought to Florence by Prince Mattias de' Medici.

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

10 catalogued objects are recorded under Hans Tucher. Attributions are as given by each source and are not independent authentication.

  • Diptych dial by Hans Tucher, 1578, showing the internal configuration of the ivory leaves, the compass, and various gnomon scales.
  • Side view of the polyhedral sundial showing the OCCIDENS face and the horizontal top dial face with the missing compass recess.
  • Diptych sundial, showing the interior of the opened leaves with gnomons, compass, and various hour scales.
  • View of the open diptych dial showing the interior leaves, the string dial, and the recessed compass space.
  • The interior of the 1595 diptych dial showing the string gnomon, the central compass, and the ivory leaves with inscribed latitude and hour markings.
  • Inner surfaces of the ivory diptych dial featuring the string gnomon, scaphe dial, and latitude tables.

Sources & references

  1. Hans Tucher, British Museum, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  2. Museo Galileo - Hans Tucher, Museo Galileo, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  3. Museo Galileo - Diptych dial, Museo Galileo, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  4. Familie Tucher - Watch-Wiki - Das Uhrenlexikon, Watch-Wiki, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  5. Astronomie in Nürnberg – Information zu Hans (+ Familie) Tucher (Ducher), astronomie-nuernberg.de, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)

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