18th Century German Equinoctial Pocket Sundial and Compass by Ludwig Theodor

18th Century German Equinoctial Pocket Sundial and Compass by Ludwig Theodor

From the first quarter of the 18th century – a German brass equinoctial pocket sundial by Ludwig Theodor Muller, Augsburg. The sundial consists of three parts: a richly engraved octagonally shaped gilt brass base, which holds a recessed compass with circular glass; a hinged silvered brass sector to adjust the latitude; and a hinged silvered hour ring with a sprung folding central gnomon to read the time. The sundial rests on three solid brass turned adjustable bun feet.

To position the instrument, use can be made of the compass, which has a silver centre with rose and radial lines engraved with Latin annotations (S for Septentriones (north), E for Emendor (magnetic declination), OR for Orientalis (east), M for Meridianus (south) and OC for Occidentalis, the four cardinal points. The underside of the compass is engraved with the following placenames and indications: Elev Poli, Lisbon 39; Rom 42; Venedig 45; Wien, Munch, Augsp. 4X; Nurnb, Regensp 49; Prag, Cracau 50; Leizig 51 over the monogram L.T.M, the initials of the maker. When the compass needle is directed to the north, the latitude can be adjusted on the sector on the basis of the observer’s position. The time can then be read by the shadow which the needle gnomon casts on the hinged open hour silvered circle pivoting against the folding curved latitude scale and engraved in reverse III-XII-IX with stylized wheatear half-hour markers.

The maker
Ludwig Theodor (or Ludovicus Theodatus) Müller was active a compass and sundial maker in Augsburg from circa 1710. He died in 1770.