|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
| A 16th Century German Inclining String-Gnomon Sundial By Ulrich Schniep. | ||
Click here to purchase one of our unique Sundials.(1). 'TABULA ATITUDINIS REGION[AR]U[M]' (Table of the latitudes of places), with engraved names and latitudes of 36 major European cities.
(2). The inner lid of the sundial contains at one end the maker's signature, at the other, the title of the instrument: 'VIATORIVM' (Traveler timepiece). At the center is a volvelle entitled: 'SEPTENTRIO[N] / NERI.DIES' (Rotating scale for northern daylight time) used to convert astronomical hours (counted from midday) to Italian hours (counted from sunset), with the instruction 'HEBETVR HORA ITALICA SI 24 PONAS SVPER HORM OCCAYSVS' (Italian hours can be found if 24 is placed beside the time of sunset). In the four corners are cardinal directions: 'OCCIDENS' (West - sunset direction); 'ORIENS' (East - sunrise direction). (3). The decorated inclining plate with engraving of the hour lines from 3 am to 9 pm and half-hour divisions. (4). Sprung folding gnomon support with plummet, shaped and engraved as two monstrous fish and serves as a holder for the upper end of the string gnomon. The plummet is used to adjust the inclination for latitudes over a scale of 42° - 52°. (5). Rounded pivoted compass plate with glazed compass compartment (lacks needle). The plate is made to rotate in order to adjust the compass over a graduated scale of ±30° for compensating the declination error between magnetic and true north. As engraved on the rim: GRAD DECMIN ACIO MAGNETIS 60, 70, 80, 90, 10, 20, 30. (6). The brass box base is engraved with formal strap work and stylized leaf decoration, which is continued over the sides of the instruments. About fifty instruments by Ulrich Schniep (mainly sundials and gunner's instruments) are known, the earliest dating from 1553 and the latest to 1588. Only two other Inclining String-Gnomon Sundial are registered: One at the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, Inventory No. 40748, (Figure 2), the other in the British Museum London, Registration no. MLA 1844, 7-30.1 (Figure 3). |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Figure 1. Inclining String-Gnomon Sundial By Ulrich Schniep from Gilai Collectibles (sold). |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
References:
Rohde, Alfred: Die Geschichte der Wissenschaftlichen Instrumente….Leipzig, 1923. http://www.isin.org/ http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/ |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Click here to purchase one of our unique Sundials.Copyright © 2003 Gilai Collectibles. All rights reserved. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||
