This “astronomical pocket cutlery” dates from the 16th century. It was made by Johannes Krabbe in 1583 and is thus one of the oldest objects in our collection. Sundial or astronomical (pocket) cutlery? The object belongs to the Observatory Collection, which was created by Rudolf … Read more
Very little is known about this Renaissance wooden sundial. Based on an inscription on the floor inside the cube, we know that it was painted, or at most also made, by painter Jakob Hofmann from Schwäbisch Hall in 1597. This Renaissance painter was born in … Read more
This cube-shaped sundial comes from Rudolf Wolf‘s collection. According to his inventory dating from 1873, this sundial was one which he purchased. Sundials were a focal point of Wolf’s collection and he seemed interested in collecting and comparing as many models from various eras as … Read more
This universal sun ring comes from the former collection of Rudolf Wolf (1816-1893). Wolf’s inventory dating from 1873 does not state clearly whether the universal sun ring was incorporated into the Wolf collection as a purchase or a donation. An improvement of the hanging sundial … Read more
This ring sundial comes from the former collection of Rudolf Wolf (1816-1893). The ring sundial is listed but not dated in Rudolf Wolf’s 1873 inventory, and no mention is made of the manufacturers Christian Jenderich and J. Linzner. Ring sundials Portable ring sundials can be … Read more
3D digitalisation at ETH library A project in which 20 selected objects were 3D digitalised using photogrammetry was launched by the collection of scientific instruments and teaching aids at ETH library in 2022. The images were captured using photogrammetry by Thomas Erdin from ikonaut in … Read more