Very rare form of a brass equinoctial sundial, Germany, 17th century.
€3,500
Circa
17th century
Country of manufacture
Germany
Description
Rare brass equinoctial sundial, Germany, second half of the 17th century.
Brass, silver, and iron; 14 cm long, 7 cm wide, and 6.5 cm high.
A rare brass equinoctial sundial, unsigned but certainly German.
A French owner inscribed “Amsterdam, July 24, 1819” on the back of the instrument with a stylus, without further information. This is a date of acquisition, not of manufacture.
On a wide, flat, rectangular base rounded at both ends rests a large compass (6.5 cm in diameter) whose face is engraved with the four cardinal points, north being represented by a large fleur-de-lis. At the other end is a semicircle forming the latitude scale divided from 0 to 90 degrees. In the center, held by two small pillars with decorative carvings, is a circle divided on each side (one for the Northern Hemisphere and the other for the Southern Hemisphere) into two 12-hour sections. On one of the two faces is a richly detailed compass rose with the cardinal directions and their subdivisions.
Very simple to use, one simply sets one of the two gnomons to the desired latitude and reads the time on the sundial’s face exposed to the sun. We know of two sundials of identical design but earlier production: one dating from the second half of the 16th century, held at the Landesmuseum in Württemberg, and a second signed by Johann Keller around 1600, held at the History of Science Museum in Oxford. (See the last two photos for comparison.)
Furthermore, the style of the compass and wind rose lettering is reminiscent of Hager’s work or certain anonymous Dutch or German sundials from around 1700. These two elements allow us to plausibly date this sundial, of a rare shape, to the second half of the 17th century as German.
This very unusual sundial is in excellent condition.
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
Ask the Dealer
Dealer information
Le Zograscope
Established by Alexandre Piffault in 2014 and based in Paris at 5 rue de Condé, 75006, very close to Odéon, Le Zograscope specializes in antique and rare books in Science, Medicine and Technology, and rare antique instruments in the same fields. We have especially a strong interest in early and continental microscopy, early and special mathematical/drawing instruments, medical and surgical instrument, and rare technology.
Personnal website : https://www.lezograscope.com/
