Description

Pre-Hevelius Sundial, dated 1616. Brass; 6 x 5.8 cm and 7.3 cm with the bail.

This rare altitude sundial, known as the Hevelius type after the example made by Joannes Hevelius in 1638 (preserved at the Muzeum Pomorski and destroyed in 1945), predates the Hevelius model by more than twenty years.

We know of only one other example predating this sundial. Preserved at the Boerhaave Museum (reference V03096), it is unsigned but dated 1615 and bears a strong resemblance, both in its design and decoration, to our 1616 example, which is also unsigned (see the last two photos for comparison).

The brass sundial for a single latitude, “POLUS 52 G. 35. M.”, is constructed in the form of a disc with a raised, ear-shaped appendage in which the hour scale is engraved. A movable arm, or alidade, pivoting at the center of the disc, is fitted with a small pinnule and allows the gnomon to be adjusted to the date on the calendar engraved on either side of the dial.

In the center of the side bearing the hour scale, a sun is engraved as a decoration.

The movable arm bears a hallmark of Antwerp origin (many other known examples bear the Amsterdam crown or are signed by Dutch manufacturers, including the Sneewins). This is a very rare form of sundial, predating the Hevelius model and the mark of a manufacturer located in Antwerp in 1616. This type of sundial was produced until the beginning of the 18th century.

A particularly early model, as it is the second oldest known.

This sundial comes from a collection of sundial of which the entire catalogue is available here :

https://lezograscope.cdn.bibliopolis.com/images/upload/catalogue-cadrans-06-01-2026-1.pdf

Prices’ list here :

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ChNOIWQMZVbCrhxrPADwl8N-P7_89u8s/view