Accession No

6829

Brief Description

miniature universal equinoctial ring dial, purportedly by Johann Somer, German, 17th Century, but actually a 20th Century fake

Origin

Germany?

Maker

Somer, Johann [purported] unknown [forger]

Class

dials

Earliest Date

1900

Latest Date

2000

Inscription Date

Material

metal (silver)

Dimensions

58mm (diameter), 3mm (height)

Special Collection

Provenance

Purchased at auction from Charles Miler Ltd in April 2025.

Inscription

Johann Somer Augsburg 48
Ulm 48
Stugart 48
Nürnberg 49
München 48 [around perimeter of dial, obverse]

Dreßen 51
Berlin 53
Stockholm 59
Paris 49
Roma 42
Venetin 45
Hamburg 54
Leibzig 51 [around inner perimeter of dial, obverse]

Wien 48
Prag 50
Salzburg 48
Edinburgh 55
Straßburg 48
London 51
Franckfurt M 50
Danzig 55 [around perimeter of dial, reverse]

Description Notes

Miniature equinoctial ring dial, purportedly German, 17th Century, but actually a 20th Century fake.

Silver-coated metal ring dial with meridian ring, equinoctial ring, and bridge. Slider for bridge is not present. On the obverse side of the meridian ring, there is a latitude scale, a signature of the supposed maker, Johann Somer, and a table of latitudes for cities in Germany. On the obverse side of the equinoctial ring, the table of latitudes continues with further German cities, as well as cities in Sweden, France and Italy.

On the reverse side of the meridian ring, there is another table of latitudes for a variety of European cities, predominately those in central Europe, but also including London and Edinburgh. On the reverse side of the equinoctial ring are hour scales, while the bridge has a scale of months on one side, and the zodiac signs on the other.

The bridge has some decorative elements, and there are leaf details at the points of connection with the rings. The dial has a hook at its top.

References

Events