Accession No

0956

Brief Description

universal equinoctial dial, by Michele Bertini, 1780

Origin

Maker

Bertini, Michele

Class

dials

Earliest Date

1780

Latest Date

1780

Inscription Date

1780

Material

metal (gilt brass, silvered brass, steel); glass

Dimensions

length 163mm; breadth 135mm; height 46mm

Special Collection

Robert Whipple collection

Provenance

Inscription

‘Michele Bertini
1780’

Description Notes

Gilt brass base plate set on 3 levelling screws; engraved foliage decoration at 4 corners. Above and rotating on the base plate is a disc divided 0 - 180˚ - 0, numbered by 10˚, subdivided to 1˚. (Index at bottom; 17-1-2000). Central compass, silvered; 8-point compass rose; marked for magnetic variation at 12˚ W of N. Hinged to the disc is an hour circle segment in silvered brass, divided IIII - XII, I - VIII, numbered by I, subdivided on inner face to 5 minutes. Declination circle with pinhole gnomon on diametrical cross piece, the gnomon adjustable for declination by sliding scale with silver calendar disc and gilt index calibrated by month and zodiac sign, subdivided by transversal dots to 1˚.
Hour circle is held in place by arc, hinged to the base plate. This is marked 90˚-35˚, numbered by 10, divided to 1˚. Fits into half-slot on side of hour circle; 17-1-2000.

Condition: good.

References

Events