Unknown German
Portable Diptych Sundial

Public Domain

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Maker Unknown German

CultureGerman

Titles

Portable Diptych Sundial

Datec. 1775–1825

Made inGermany

MediumWood, paper, glass, brass, magnet, and string

Dimensions9/16 × 2 3/4 × 1 9/16 in. (1.5 × 7 × 4 cm)

Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, gift of David B. Warren

Object numberB.91.50

Current Location

Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens

Chippendale Bedroom

On view

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Department

Bayou Bend

Object Type

TIMEPIECES

DescriptionThis portable diptych sundial from the turn of the 19th century would not only have been handy, but would have also flaunted the wealth and sophistication of its owner. From elaborately carved and painted to simply functional, many such sundials were made in Germany, where clock-making precision had become an art. The dial could be adapted to different latitudes, useful for a traveling merchant or intrepid tourist. Notably, on the lid of this sundial, a table lists latitudes of 36 cities, including 4 in the New World—Baltimore, Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. To discover the correct time, a traveler would consult the list and place the string, which acts as a gnomon, in the corresponding slot. Use of the compass helped orient the sundial so that the gnomon pointed north, thereby attaining an accurate time.
ProvenanceSharp family, Burlington County, New Jersey; to William B. Sharp, Wilmington, Delaware; to his daughter, Mary R. Sharp; to her cousin, Florence Prickett Warren; to her son, David B. Warren; given to MFAH, 1991.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks

On the lid printed in two columns:
Amsterdam.52 / Augsburg..48 / Ancona…43 / Barcellona.41 / Baltimore..39 / Boston…42 / Bordeaux.45 / Cöln…..50 / Copenhagen.53 / Cracau…50 / Danzig…54 / Dresden..51 / Franhf.a.M.50 / Franhf.a.O.52 / Florenz…43 / Genua….44 / Grätz…47 / Halle…..51 / Hamburg..55 / Königsberg.54 / Lissabon..38 / Leipzig…51 / London...51 / Marseille..43 / Madrid…40 / München.48 / Nürnberg…49 /New-York.41 / Philadelphia.40 / Paris….49 / Riga….56 / Venedig…45 / Wien….48 / Washington38 / Zeitz….51 / Znaim…48

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Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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