This nocturnal watch –"Horologium Nocturnum" – is an astronomical instrument that was used to keep time at night.
By observing the stars, it was noted that certain boreal constellations rotated around the Pole Star as if a giant clock hand were keeping time around a celestial sphere of 24 hours.
This particular nocturnal is a reproduction of the one made in 1570 by Girolamo della Volpaia - an Italian maker of clocks and scientific instruments - which is currently on display at the Galileo Museum in Florence.
Because it was made before the Gregorian reform (1582) and its creator did not have accurate calculation boards, to use this instrument correctly one must add 38 days to observation date.
Attention to detail, historical interest and its beautiful design is brought to life in this elegant Nocturlabe. It comes complete on an elegant wooden stand with a user manual.
The Nocturlabe measures 165mm in height on the stand, 140mm across and 3mm thick.
Material: Brass engraved with acid. Sapele wood base tainted with natural wax and polished.
