Boxwood Diptych Sundial, Possibly from Nuremberg
notes: label: Description
content: This boxwood pocket dial has a single scale on the base which runs from 4 to 12 to 8, divided to quarter hours. It also has a single vertical scale on the inside of the lid which runs from 6 to 12 to 6, also divided to quarter hours. There is a string gnomon with a plumb bob that makes an angle of 48 to 49 degrees with the horizontal surface (hence the dial was made for a latitude of 48 to 49 degrees e.g. Nuremberg). Recessed in the base is a round glass-covered cavity that holds a magnetic needle. The north point of the scale is offset to the west for magnetic variation. The instrument has brass wire hinges and two hooks for holding the lid open or closed. Dimensions given are for object open. Compare to Whipple Museum of the History of Science, Catalogue 6, #102.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
topic: label: Subject
content: Mathematics
label: Subject
content: Timekeeping
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Mathematics
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: MA.318437
label: catalog number
content: 318437
label: accession number
content: 233850
objectType: label: Object Name
content: sundial, diptych
label: Object Name
content: Sundial, Horizontal Portable
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: boxwood (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: glass (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: paper (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 9.6 cm x 6.6 cm x 9.5 cm; 3 25/32 in x 2 19/32 in x 3 3/4 in