A fine mid 16th-Century gilt-brass astronomical compendium, unsigned and undated , but attributable to Christoph Schissler of Augsburg -- 2½ x 2 1/8 x ½in. (6.5 x 5.4 x 1.4cm.) Arranged to resemble a small book, this compendium is in three sections. At the centre is the main compartment showing the 'spine' and the sides engraved with straight lines to mimic pages. The front 'cover' has the latitudes of 80 towns punched on both sides, from Sardinia 38° to Lubeck 55°, while the back 'cover' has silver pointers for the Sun and the Moon on the outside, and on the inside a silver volvelle to show the Moon's age with phase aperture. Closure is by a pair of clasps corresponding to books of the period. A ring is fixed to the lower edge to take a thong for carrying the intrument. The central compartment contains a magnetic compass, complete with magnetic needle and glass cover retained by a brass split ring. In the base of the compass box are punched the names of winds: NORD, NORD-OST, OST, SVD-OST, SVD, SVD-WEST, WEST, NORD-WE . The line to the magnetic deviation is at about 11° East of North. The rectangular plate that surrounds the compass has engraved sixteen triangular pointers for the winds, each painted in colour, dark blue for the four cardinal points, green for the intermediate four, and red for the other eight. The surround has engraved sixteen heads representing winds, blowing billowing clouds. Into this compass compartment may be placed two 1mm thick rectangular plates, each side engraved with hour lines for a choice of four latitudes to produce horizontal sundials for the latitudes of 51°/54° and 39°/42°. The gnomon ( probably a string; now missing ) pegs into a small hole at the centre of the 6 o'clock line below the compass. The upper end of the gnomon will fit in a slot cut in the front plate of the instrument. In use as a sundial, this plate has to be set in the vertical by a prop hinged to the side of the top edge, the point of this prop locating in a notch cut in the side of the front plate. The inside of the back 'cover' has three concentric bands, the outermost punched: INCREMENTVM ET DECREMENTVM LVNAE . The next band has twice XII hours, while the last has the age of the Moon to 29½ days. This scale is read through an aperture with a central pointer in a silver volvelle with a phase diagram. The full Moon is a carefully engraved face. The middle of the volvelle is marked out with the astrological dispositions: trine; quartile, sextile. The outside of this plate has concentric bands showing twice XII hours, and the Latin names and number of days in the months of the year. The central part has hour lines: HORAE PLANETARVM DIEI ET NOCTIVM . The double-ended silver pointer has at the centre the Moon's age to 29½days, and a full-Moon face at one end. The single-ended pointer that follows has the dispositions at the centre, while the central peg has a Sun's face. See Colour Illustrations
A fine mid 16th-Century gilt-brass astronomical compendium, unsigned and undated , but attributable to Christoph Schissler of Augsburg -- 2½ x 2 1/8 x ½in. (6.5 x 5.4 x 1.4cm.) Arranged to resemble a small book, this compendium is in three sections. At the centre is the main compartment showing the 'spine' and the sides engraved with straight lines to mimic pages. The front 'cover' has the latitudes of 80 towns punched on both sides, from Sardinia 38° to Lubeck 55°, while the back 'cover' has silver pointers for the Sun and the Moon on the outside, and on the inside a silver volvelle to show the Moon's age with phase aperture. Closure is by a pair of clasps corresponding to books of the period. A ring is fixed to the lower edge to take a thong for carrying the intrument. The central compartment contains a magnetic compass, complete with magnetic needle and glass cover retained by a brass split ring. In the base of the compass box are punched the names of winds: NORD, NORD-OST, OST, SVD-OST, SVD, SVD-WEST, WEST, NORD-WE . The line to the magnetic deviation is at about 11° East of North. The rectangular plate that surrounds the compass has engraved sixteen triangular pointers for the winds, each painted in colour, dark blue for the four cardinal points, green for the intermediate four, and red for the other eight. The surround has engraved sixteen heads representing winds, blowing billowing clouds. Into this compass compartment may be placed two 1mm thick rectangular plates, each side engraved with hour lines for a choice of four latitudes to produce horizontal sundials for the latitudes of 51°/54° and 39°/42°. The gnomon ( probably a string; now missing ) pegs into a small hole at the centre of the 6 o'clock line below the compass. The upper end of the gnomon will fit in a slot cut in the front plate of the instrument. In use as a sundial, this plate has to be set in the vertical by a prop hinged to the side of the top edge, the point of this prop locating in a notch cut in the side of the front plate. The inside of the back 'cover' has three concentric bands, the outermost punched: INCREMENTVM ET DECREMENTVM LVNAE . The next band has twice XII hours, while the last has the age of the Moon to 29½ days. This scale is read through an aperture with a central pointer in a silver volvelle with a phase diagram. The full Moon is a carefully engraved face. The middle of the volvelle is marked out with the astrological dispositions: trine; quartile, sextile. The outside of this plate has concentric bands showing twice XII hours, and the Latin names and number of days in the months of the year. The central part has hour lines: HORAE PLANETARVM DIEI ET NOCTIVM . The double-ended silver pointer has at the centre the Moon's age to 29½days, and a full-Moon face at one end. The single-ended pointer that follows has the dispositions at the centre, while the central peg has a Sun's face. See Colour Illustrations
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
