Book-Type Diptych Sundial
notes: label: Description
content: This large rectangular wooden diptych dial is of the book style; the hinges are along the long edge. It consists of two pieces of painted paper inside a wood case. Brass bars on either side hold the dial open, while it is closed and secured with two metal pins. The vertical part of the case contains a scroll marked with fifteen European cities with latitudes of 52 degrees. Clouds and a sun are painted beneath the scroll. A string gnomon is loosely nailed to the center of the sun. There is another, blank scroll, beneath the sun. Seven vertical scrolls are below the blank scroll. The two outermost vertical scrolls are marked with saints' days, the next two scrolls contain the months, the next two scrolls give the lengths of night and day in each month, and the middle scroll contains a list of time intervals with each row adding up to twelve hours. A polar dial calibrated by zodiac symbol and picture is around and underneath these scrolls; this dial does not have a pin gnomon. The outer edge contains a vertical dial calibrated from 7 to 12 to 5 by 1. Red diamonds are at each half-hour point.
label: Description
content: The outer edge of the base of the case contains a horizontal dial calibrated from IIII to XII to VIII by I with red diamonds at each half-hour point. The interior of the base contains an inset compass 5 cm in diameter. The four compass points are lettered S[eptentrio?], A, M[eridies?], and V. The glass cover and ferrous metal arrow are intact. A lunar volvelle is below the compass. It is calibrated on the moving dial from 4 to 12 to 8 by 1. The stationary part is calibrated from 1 to 29 by 1.There is a hole for denoting the phases of the moon with the colors blue, black, and red. A blank stone is painted to the left of the volvelle. To the right of the volvelle is a scroll with an inscription in German describing the sundial.
label: Description
content: This dial probably dates from the last quarter of the 1500s.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: Germany
topic: label: Subject
content: Mathematics
label: Subject
content: Timekeeping
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Mathematics
label: See more items in
content: Science & Mathematics
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: MA.326981
label: catalog number
content: 326981
label: accession number
content: 1987.0708
objectType: label: Object Name
content: sundial, horizontal
physicalDescription: label: Measurements
content: overall: 5.5 cm x 44.5 cm x 30.5 cm; 2 5/32 in x 17 17/32 in x 12 in