Compass
ca.1600-1625 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This folding compass and dial was made in about 1600 to 1620 in Nuremberg in Germany, attributed to Hans Reinmann II (d.1627). The outside of this compass is engraved with a dial, with a circular brass pointer and a mariner's compass. The inside is engraved with a table of latitutes, various dials, and the signs of the Zodiac.
Similar pieces were produced at that time in Dieppe by the Bloud family and others, but this compass is even more similar to sundials produced in Nuremberg. The crowns seen on this sundial (one on the inside, and two on the outside) correspond with the marks on other compasses produced by the Reinmann family of Nuremberg.
Similar pieces were produced at that time in Dieppe by the Bloud family and others, but this compass is even more similar to sundials produced in Nuremberg. The crowns seen on this sundial (one on the inside, and two on the outside) correspond with the marks on other compasses produced by the Reinmann family of Nuremberg.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Ivory, partly painted and gilded, with gilt brass fittings |
| Brief description | Folding compass and dial, ivory, painted and gilded, attributed to Hans Reinmann II (d.1627), Nuremberg; ca. 1600-25. |
| Physical description | The inner faces of this folding compass are painted with a table of latitudes of various German and other centres, written with seventeenth century German spellings: Danzig, Lübeck, Stettin, Littau, Lithuania, Königsberg, Wittenberg, Torún, Antwerp, London, Prague, Cologne, Paris, Heidelberg, Worms, Speyer, Vienna. The signs of the zodiac are included, and a mariner's compass, with an inscription. A stylized townscape of houses and spires amidst fenced green fields, and floral and fruit motifs decorate the lid and base. The designs and inscriptions are coloured in green, brown, red, blue and black. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Credit line | Alfred Williams Hearn Gift |
| Object history | Similar pieces were produced at that date in Dieppe by the Bloud family and others, but this compass is even more similar to those produced in Nuremberg, especially the work of the Reinmann workshop, who inscribed crowns on the sundials they produced. This one has one crown on the inside, and two on the outside. Given by Mrs Ellen Hearn, Villa St Louis, Menton in 1923; this and other objects presented at the same time were labelled as the Alfred Williams Hearn gift. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This folding compass and dial was made in about 1600 to 1620 in Nuremberg in Germany, attributed to Hans Reinmann II (d.1627). The outside of this compass is engraved with a dial, with a circular brass pointer and a mariner's compass. The inside is engraved with a table of latitutes, various dials, and the signs of the Zodiac. Similar pieces were produced at that time in Dieppe by the Bloud family and others, but this compass is even more similar to sundials produced in Nuremberg. The crowns seen on this sundial (one on the inside, and two on the outside) correspond with the marks on other compasses produced by the Reinmann family of Nuremberg. |
| Bibliographic references |
|
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.47-1923 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | April 13, 2005 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
