Accession No
1727
Brief Description
astronomical compendium, attributed to Christoph Schissler, German, 1562
Origin
Germany; Augsburg [based on attributed maker]
Maker
Schissler, Christoph [attributed]
Class
dials
Earliest Date
1562
Latest Date
1562
Inscription Date
1562
Material
metal (gilt brass, silver); glass; rope (string)
Dimensions
length 66mm; breadth 75mm; thickness 24mm
Special Collection
Holden-White collection
Provenance
On loan from The Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge. Donated by Charles Holden-White to the Fitzwilliam Museum. C. Holden-White collection no. 1935-81.
Inscription
‘ANNO 15.62’
Description Notes
Octagonal gilt-brass compendium, some minor parts silvered. On 3 turned feet. Hinged lid and base.
Leaf Ia: zodiac scale divided to sign, numbered by 10˚, subdivided to 1˚. Date scale (not regularly spaced, with some months transposed). Within this a spiral scale marked ‘dies mensium anni pro motv’, divided 1 - 31, numbered by 1. An index arm lies over this and the date scale.
Leaf Ib: silvered disc with 16-point wind rose. Lunar age scale divided 1 - 29, numbered by 1, with 3rd scale of numbers. Above this a gilt disc inscribed ‘principivm mensis civivsq3 totivs anni’. Above this a silvered disc with convolute spiral divided 1 - 31, numbered by 1 (for details see history file).
Leaf IIa: horizontal string-gnomon dial for latitudes 51, 48 and 45˚ N, divided 4 - 12, 1 - 8, 4 - 12, 1 - 8 and 5 - 12, 1 - 7, each scale numbered by 1 and subdivided to 15 minutes. Folding arm marked ‘scal latitvdi poli 45 48 51’. Inset compass with 4-point silvered rose offset 10˚ W of N for magnetic variation; degree scale divided 90˚ - 0 - 90˚, numbered by 15˚, subdivided to 5˚ and marked ‘declinationes magne’. Side of leaf 2 decorated with quasi-geometric leaf motif. Compass can be pushed through.
Leaf IIb: scale of dominical letters divided 1 - 28; silvered disc marked ‘avres nvm:’ [golden number] and divided 1 - 19. (Also a second number scale. The centre scale is marked ‘DECLINATIONES MAGNETIS’, and is divided 90-[0]-90, numbered by 20, subdivided to 5; 14-1-2000).
Leaf IIb1a and b and IIb2a and b calibrated by day and month with domincal letter and names of saint’s days etc.
Leaf IIIa: possibly almanac (previously described as perpetual calendar), inscribed ‘mot me lunae anni christi 1562-1601’, for every year and with ‘signa zodiac’ and various scales. (Central disc marked ’HORAE DIEI’ and ‘noctis’, and numbered I-XII by I, and 1-12 by 1; 14-1-2000).
Leaf IIIb: zodiac scale, numbered by 10˚, subdivided to 1˚; lunar age scale divided 1 - 29, numbered by 1. (Central disc numbered 1-24 by 1, subdivided to 1/4. The face of the Moon is engraved on this leaf; 14-1-2000). It is missing a dial.
Condition: good.
References
Boris Jardine; 'Astronomical compendia'; Explore Whipple Collections online article; Whipple Museum of the History of Science; University of Cambridge; 2008: https://www.whipplemuseum.cam.ac.uk/explore-whipple-collections/astronomy/astronomical-compendia
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:39976
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