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152
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Horizontal dial in a barrel-shaped ivory box with compartmen…
See original version (French)
152
-
Horizontal dial in a barrel-shaped ivory box with compartmen…
See original version (French)
Estimate €3,500 - €4,000
Voluntary lot
Description
Horizontal dial in a barrel-shaped ivory box with compartments, Holland ?, circa 1640.
Ivory, amber, brass, paper; 7 cm high and
4-5 cm in diameter.
Pocket sundial in the shape of a barrel with five separate compartments. Several similar or similar dials are known to exist in public collections. Often unsigned, they are considered to be German, certainly from the city of Nuremberg, well known for the production of its ivory diptych dials. But the only signed examples we have been able to find all bear Dutch or Flemish signatures: Henricus Sneewin, Christian Christiaensen and Jan Adriaensen. This could therefore also indicate a Dutch
Dutch rather than German origin.
The present example, which is very well preserved, can be divided into five compartments: the upper tier, whose lid is pierced with small holes, could have been used as a scent box or pomander, the second tier includes a brass moon scroll showing the different phases of the moon, the third tier is the sundial itself, below which is a compass with its needle and a beautiful compass rose made of red, blue, yellow and green wallpaper, and finally, the fifth and last tier is a simple circular box that could have been used as a snuffbox.
The barrel is beautifully decorated in ink with amber inlays.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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