Dear All, The technique of manufacturing of this dial is very specific – it is all engraved, unlike Dieppe or Nuremberg dials on which many markings (numerals, sigils, decoration patterns etc.) were normally punched. This implies that the dial didn’t come from the workshop specialized in mass production of the diptych dials. It rather seems to be unique custom product, resulting from cooperation of very skilled engraver and mathematician.I’m not expert in heraldry – but short internet research brought me to the website of the Gaudel family, which coat of arms seems to match closely the one depicted on the dial (despite wavy pattern inside reversed “V”): http://genealogie.gaudel.pagesperso-orange.fr/chatel.htmThere is some sort of signature, above the vertical dial of the inner face, it reads: “anthonn “ and “yuec” (fec.? fecit?) Please see image No. 11 at https://www.dropbox.com/s/m7clcl1w3f3rcrr/diptych%20dial.zip Maciek Lose Od: "Schechner, Sara" <[email protected]>Do: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>; "[email protected]" <[email protected]>; Wysłane: 20:42 Niedziela 2014-07-27Temat: RE: unique French diptych dial Dear Maciek, Thanks for sharing these images and link. What a fabulous diptych! I could not find a maker’s mark on it by inspecting the photos. Do you know if it was stamped or marked in any way, save for the epact date of 1598? Did the auctioneer or anyone else identify the coat of arms?
Best wishes, Sara Sara J. Schechner, Ph.D. David P. Wheatland Curator of the Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments Department of the History of Science, Harvard University Science Center 251c, 1 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 Tel: 617-496-9542 | Fax: 617-496-5932 | [email protected] http://scholar.harvard.edu/saraschechner http://chsi.harvard.edu/ From: sundial [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected]: Saturday, July 26, 2014 5:19 PMTo: [email protected]: unique French diptych dial Dear Diallists, The topic of the last, Jubilee edition of the BSS Bulletin is “decoration on sundials”. Interestingly, as post scriptum for Bulletin’s topic, in local French auction house sale recently appeared an unusual and early diptych sundial of most attractive look and complex furniture. Please find below link to my dropbox folder with detailed photos obtained by the courtesy of the auction house SVV DUPONT & Associés: https://www.dropbox.com/s/m7clcl1w3f3rcrr/diptych%20dial.zip The instrument, based on the inscription relating to epacts can be dated late 16th century and is unique example by many means – substantial size 19.5 x 11.8 cm, quality of engraved decoration rarely seen on ivory due to limitations coming from material characteristics and very complex furniture. Interestingly it doesn’t follow Dieppe patterns, being closer to Nuremberg dials – but in many respects its style is unique. The dial, despite holiday time, local French auctioneer and its incompleteness, was sold today well above 50k Euros ! It is likely that it was bought by a private collector and may not be exposed to public, so I wanted to share it with You as it looks obviously to be an important example of a diptych and of enigmatic origin. I hope that French diallists will study it in detail and drop us some more light on it ! Good viewing, Maciek Lose
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