LOUVAIN SCHOOL, LATE 16th CENTURY

Details

AN ASTRONOMICAL RING DIAL
LOUVAIN SCHOOL, LATE 16th CENTURY
The brass rings folding flat; a removable throne with curved bar secured by two screws with three possible holes to the meridian ring in order to adjust latitude from 60° to 30° despite a graduated scale 0-90°; the equator with hour scales to both sides and on one side a shadow scale [0]-3-6-9-12-9-6-3-[0], the inside with a calendrical scale with initials of months and outside with symbols of zodiac; the declination ring with sighting vanes, scale 90°-[0]-90°, solar declination scale, scale for 24 hours from 1-12 twice, the inside of the ring with a fourth collar marked with numbers for 24 stars that are named and numbered on outside of the ring.
4 ¾in. (12.4cm.) diameter

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Emily Pilling

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Lot Essay

This astronomical ring dial almost certainly comes from the same workshop as another unsigned piece at the British Museum (1888,1201.316): the style of engraving suggests the same hand, as does the overall construction. Van Cleempoel in his 2002 study did not attribute a maker, but placed it confidently in the Louvain school prior to 1600.

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