230 - Thomas Tucher

Thomas Tucher A magnificent large azimuth diptych dial with compass and calendar Dimensions 80 x 122 x 16 mm, circa 1620, Weight 280 g, Origin: Germany Case: Ivory, colored, with gilded brass mountings. This sundial bears the initials “T” and “D” and the serpent mark of the compass maker Thomas Tucher (Ducher) in Nuremberg; it is equipped with a compass and markings for “Welsche” (foreign) and “Nirenperger” (Nuremberg) time. A table showing the conversion between the Julian and Gregorian calendars was placed in the lower section. This fine piece is remarkable in many respects—even its size is unusually large for a folding sundial of this type. The sundial’s ornamentation, featuring magnificent gilded fittings, attests not only to the maker’s craftsmanship but also to the sophisticated tastes of the original owner. The piece is in excellent condition, with one bottom fitting missing. Thomas Tucher (1590–1645), a master craftsman in Nuremberg from 1613 onward, marked his works almost exclusively with the letters “TD” along with the Tucher family’s master mark, the serpent. His diptych sundials stand out for their elaborate ornamentation—polychrome scrollwork, fruit, flowers, and leaves. Another distinguishing feature is the gilded corner fittings. Other typical features include a globe-like finial found on some of his instruments, the trefoil motif, and the alternation between the Gregorian and Julian calendars. The earliest diptych sundial attributed to him dates to 1610 or 1620, respectively, while the last one, signed “Thomas Ducher” and the only one bearing a date, shows the year 1645 and was made in that same year. Of the approximately twenty-nine diptych sundials attributed to Thomas Tucher, twelve display the monogram “TD” with the serpent, another twelve show only the serpent mark, one bears only the initials “TD,” and four are unsigned. Many of these instruments are held in museum collections. Source: “Eine Nürnberger Klappsonnenuhr von Thomas Tucher” by Roland Schewe, in “Deutsche Gesellschaft für Chronometrie, Jahresschrift 2004,” vol. 43, p. 163. Case: very good, with some missing parts. Please note that some countries prohibit the import of objects made of, or containing, materials from endangered species—such as (but not limited to) coral, ivory, tortoiseshell, or rare tropical woods. For customs-related reasons, these objects cannot be shipped outside the EU. We therefore strongly advise you to thoroughly familiarize yourself with your country’s current customs regulations before placing a bid.