Accession No

6134

Brief Description

slate epact calendar, signed B. T., attributed to Brahe Tycho, Italian, mid-17th Century

Origin

Italy

Maker

Tycho, Brahe [attributed]

Class

astronomy; horology

Earliest Date

1630

Latest Date

1670

Inscription Date

Material

stone (slate); wood (fruitwood)

Dimensions

Length 215mm; width 163mm; height 20mm

Special Collection

Provenance

Purchased from Bonham's, 101 New Bond Street, London, Knightsbridge, on 21/03/2007. Lot 112, Science & Marine, Auction 14878. From the Nachet Collection, No. 135.

Inscription

“EPATTA
AVR : NVM
INDITIONE” (front, centre of circle, top)
“BT” (front, centre of circle, bottom)

Description Notes

Slate epact calendar, by B. T., Italian, mid 17th century.

Circular slate calendar rotates in a thin fruitwood frame, which also acts as a rough index across the scales.

Inscriptions are engraved and infilled with white.

Calendar front has six concentric circles of inscriptions. With the outermost as ring 1: rings 1, 3 and 5 are in roman numerals; rings 2, 4 and 6 are in Arabic numerals. These scales include the epact, the year, the golden number and the indication.
Calendar back has 10 concentric cirlces of inscriptions. With outermost as ring 1: ring 1 is marked with letters (the dominical letter); ring 2 marked with Arabic numerals (the year); 3 is marked with a letter and two zodiac sign symbols; and 4-10 are marked with planetary symbols (forming a table of planetary positions).

Label that was attached to object (now bagged separately) reads:
“Cercle signe B.T
Attribué par la
Tradition orale à
Brahe Tycho
(1596 - 1601) [should be 1546]
NACHET N 135”

References

Events