Box sundial in the form of a pendant

Description

Christoph Schissler (Augsburg ca. 1530-1608) was one of the outstanding instrument makers of his period. The engraved signature is to be found on the outside of the rim, CHRISTOPHORVS SCHISSLER.S[enior]: FACIEBAT AVG ANNO 1580. On the outside of the lid is a figure representing Vanitas in a columned hall; on the inside is a windrose. On the upper side of the plate is an engraved sundial with Roman numerals for a day of 16 hours (IV XII VIII). The plate has a narrow opening for the foldable gnomon and a round opening for the compass fitted into the bottom part of the box. In the lower part there is an equinoctial sundial with a folding gnomon and a concave sunken dial with engraved lines for the hours (9-24), the tropics and equator, and the latitude at 45°. On the outside underneath are punched arabesque designs.