An ivory diptych dial attributed to Conrad Karner, Nuremberg, dated 1617

stamped twice on the compass well with Karner's mark of an hunting horn and baldric, and dated on the underside 1617. The ivory dial with brass clasps, hinges and catches, is stamped with inscriptions, decoration and numerals and heightened in red, brown and green.



Face Ia
Stamped with a 32-point compass rose, with sixteen points stamped with their corresponding initials. With brass indicator and an observation hole for the point of the compass needle in the tablet below is cut at the North. Engraved with spandrels decorated with the heads of the four winds.



Face Ib
The upper section engraved with two views of cities separated by attachment holes for the string gnomon for latitudes 42º, 45º, 48º, 51º, 54º. The lower section stamped with a table of European cities and their latitudes.



Face IIa
With inset compass well and a magnetic declination line of approximately 5º East which is correct for the date of the instrument needle replaced, surrounded by a diagram for an horizontal string-gnomon dial for latitudes 42º - 54º. Below two pin-gnomon dials for Italian and Babylonian hours. With spandrels of floral decoration to upper section of leaf.  



Face IIb
With engraved brass lunar volvelle to the center surrounded by tables of epacts for the Julian and Gregorian calendars, both commencing in 1617. With spandrels engraved with floral decoration to the four corners.

Sotheby's London, February 17, 1969, lot 14
Time Museum Inventory No. 443

 

Gouk, Penelope.  The Ivory Sundials of Nuremberg 1500-1700. Cambridge, 1988

The dial is probably the work of Conrad Karner II (1571-1632) who represents the second generation of the extensive and long lived Karner family of dial makers in Nuremberg which extended across five generations.