Artist
Paulus Reinmann(German, 1557–1609)German, 1557–1609
CultureGerman
Titles
- Diptych Sundial
Date1602
MediumIvory and brass
DimensionsOverall: 4 7/16 × 3 1/2 × 3/4 in. (11.3 × 8.9 × 1.9 cm)
Open: 4 3/4 × 3 1/2 × 4 7/16 in. (12.1 × 8.9 × 11.3 cm)
Open: 4 3/4 × 3 1/2 × 4 7/16 in. (12.1 × 8.9 × 11.3 cm)
Credit LineSarah Campbell Blaffer Foundation, Houston
Object numberBF.2008.6
Current Location
The Audrey Jones Beck Building
217 Blaffer Galleries
Exposé
Explore Further
Department
Sarah Campbell Blaffer FoundationObject Type
The Reinman family was one of the predominant makers of small, luxurious scientific instruments such as ivory diptych sundials in Renaissance Nuremberg, an important European center for the production of these items.
This sundial has an unusual vertical face that is covered with gold and a transparent sheet of horn. Dials on the inner and outer faces could indicate not only the time, but also the date according to both the traditional Julian calendar and the new Gregorian calendar that was adopted gradually from 1582 to the mid-18th century.
Provenance[Trevor Philip & Sons, Ltd., London]; purchased by the Sarah Campbell Blaffer Foundation, 2008.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Insc lc face: 1602 \ PAULUS REINMAN
Cataloguing data may change with further research.
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Nikolaus Rugendas
late 17th century
Silver, brass, gilt, and original leather case
BF.2008.4
1558/1559
Rubbed impression with losses in plum-colored wax
BF.1986.22
Nicholas Hilliard
1584/1586
Very good impression in off-white wax
BF.1986.21.2
Conrad Meit
1st half of the 16th century
Ivory
BF.2012.6
c. 1625
Softwood (unidentified), walnut, ebony, mother-of-pearl with pigment, gilt brass, and horn
BF.2014.6