Accession No

1854

Brief Description

cube dial, by Hans Tucher, German, 1581

Origin

Nürnberg; Germany

Maker

Tucher. Hans

Class

dials

Earliest Date

1581

Latest Date

1581

Inscription Date

1581

Material

metal (brass); wood

Dimensions

length 62mm; breadth 60mm; depth 60mm

Special Collection

Heywood collection

Provenance

Purchased from the Professor Harold Heywood collection under estate duty exemption benefit with the assistance of a Science Museum PRISM grant-in-aid.

Inscription

‘HANS DVCHER
1581’

Description Notes

Cube with wooden core faced with brass.
Under face is plain.
Horizontal dial divided 4 - 12, 1 - 8, numbered by 1, subdivided to 15 minutes. Putti windheads in corners. Lacks vertical support for string style. Recess for compass but compass missing.
South dial with pin gnomon (missing) for day length marked ‘TAGLENG’ divided 8 - 16, numbered by 1 and also marked by zodiacal symbol. Putti windheads at corners.
North face has geometric floret and putti windheads.
East dial with pin gnomon (missing) for Babylonian hours, divided 0 - 7, numbered by 1, with zodiac symbols. Marked ‘GROS VHR’ and ‘ORTVS’.
West dial with pin gnomon (missing) for Babylonian hours, divided 5 - 16, numbered by 1, with zodiac symbols. Marked ‘OCASVS’.

fair condition, missing a compass and gnomon

References

Events