Diptych dial. It is made of boxwood and comprises two leaves that fold together when not in use. The surface is badly obscured where the lacquer has stuck to the paper box. On leaf Ia, there are four barely legible red Chinese characters. Leaf Ib displays a vertical dial marked by Chinese characters. Four characters above the dial give a motto: 'The tiny shadow (i.e. time) is precious'. Leaf IIa features the horizontal dial. It is much discoloured by the lacquer. Four red characters below read: 'By knowing the direction, you can find the hour'.

In the centre is a compass surrounded by a circle divided into four parts and marked with the cardinal points (South in red). It has a grey metal base, a steel needle and the meridian line is marked. The glass plate is held in place by a black ring. There is a broken string gnomon that would originally have been attached between the inner surfaces of the two plates. Leaf IIb carries the name of the maker and the place from which he came: 'Xin-An, Xiu-Li, Fang Xiu-Shui'.

Unfortunately, this instrument has been damaged by the lacquer of the dial melting and sticking to the paper case within which it was stored. It is still possible to see all the details of the scales and inscriptions, however.

For more information regarding this dial please refer to the OUP & NMM catalogue, 'Sundials at Greenwich'.