Accession No
1729
Brief Description
compendium, made by Ulrich Schniep, second half 16th century
Origin
München (Munich); Germany
Maker
Schniep. Ulrich
Class
dials
Earliest Date
1550
Latest Date
1600
Inscription Date
Material
metal (brass, silver, gilt, steel); glass
Dimensions
length 52 mm; breadth 38 mm; thickness 13 mm
Special Collection
Holden-White collection
Provenance
On loan from The Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge. Donated by Charles Holden-White to the Fitzwilliam Museum. Holden-White collection no. 1935-83.
Inscription
‘V*S’
Description Notes
Gilt and silvered brass.
Leaf 1a: marked ‘SEPTENTR’ and ‘MERDIES’ outer scale of months ‘IANVA, FBRV ...’ by 10 days to 2 days, and calibrated for hour of sunrise and sunset but lacking volvelle above. Decorated strap word (??).
Leaf 1b: Silvered, marked ‘SEPTENTRIO’. Gilt hour ring 1-12x2 by 1 (detached; 8-2-2000) with gilt lunar age hour and phase diagram volvelle. ‘INDEX DIES ETATIS LUNAE’ and decorated with floral motifs outside the hour ring.
Leaf 2a: Horizontal dial IIII-XII, I-VIII by 1 to 30’; open folding style. Marked: ‘AD ELEVATIONEM/POLI 40.42.44/46.48.50/52.54 GRAD/V*S’. Dial plate hinged and may be inclined - scale of latitudes on inside face of leaf 2 46-54 by 2 (plate stuck; 8-2-2000). Inset compass silvered dial, 4 cardinal points S, OR, M, OC. With magnetic variation marked c 7oE. (Compass needle not original; detached).
Leaf 2b: Engraved figure of Neptune riding 3 horses, ship to his left (worn).
Condition: fair; incomplete (volvelle missing).
References
Events
Description
An astronomical compendium is an instrument that carries numerous devices for telling the time and performing astronomical calculations. Many compendia were made in the German lands in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. They are often beautifully engraved in gilt brass. Typically such compendia carry a sundial, various lunar and solar volvelles, a compass, tables of latitude, and a perpetual calendar.
Two characteristics are typical of the construction of these instruments: first, they were often made as lavishly as possible; second, they are ingeniously constructed, with as many instruments as possible filling the available space. Each plate of the compendium is known as a 'leaf', and carries a different device. Most of the instruments on a compendium are used to simplify astronomical calculations. Many compendia have volvelles—rotating discs that show the phases of the Moon, the positions of planets, and other such phenomena.
Almost all compendia have at least one form of sundial. These are often adjustable for use in different places, and are accompanied by lists of the latitudes of major cities around the world. Sometimes these lists are obviously functional, including various towns and major ports, but often they are more fanciful, including places such as Babylon, Alexandria, Moscow, Cuba, Constantinople, and Nineveh (an important ancient city in Assyria). Like the gilt decoration and detailed engraving, these were intended to show the wealth and status of the instrument's owner.
Some compendia also carry stereographic projections. These are multi-purpose maps of the heavens, allowing many astronomical calculations to be simplified. Using these, people could determine the time of sunrise and sunset, and the position of the Sun in its annual (apparent) motion through the sky.
19/12/2013
Created by: [Adapted from Boris Jardine’s 2008 Explore article] on 19/12/2013
FM:43285
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